Santiago: Chile is grappling with severe weather conditions that have resulted in the deaths of 13 people and left four individuals missing. The extreme weather has also led to water shortages and significant disruptions in transportation across various regions.
According to Thai News Agency, the Chilean National Disaster Prevention and Response Office reported that the central part of the country has been hit hardest by the storm. In the Coquimbo region, many towns are experiencing a critical water shortage, with some residents enduring up to five days without water. In response, authorities have dispatched around 50 water trucks to La Serena to provide drinking water to affected residents. In the spirit of community support, a local hotel in Coquimbo has garnered attention online for offering free showers to residents and transforming its premises into a donation center for relief supplies.
To expedite aid to those impacted, the Chilean government has declared a state of disaster in the Coquimbo region and Huasco province in the northern part of Chile. The severe weather has also led to the closure of major roads, including several sections of the Ruta Vive Norte in the Copiapo region, due to extensive damage and ongoing clearing operations.
The Chilean meteorological office has indicated that the air mass causing the high humidity is weakening, which should lead to a return to normal rainfall levels. However, they have issued a warning about the potential for heavy snowfall along the mountain ranges from Coquimbo to Aizen, with snow accumulations possibly reaching up to 30 centimeters.