20/07/2026 22:12 - Internacionales
An extreme weather front has triggered a crisis in central and northern Chile, causing flooding and widespread service outages. The government's rapid response aims to protect the population and restore normalcy as soon as possible.
According to international media reports from Deutsche Welle and Infobae, the storm that began on July 15, 2026, has proven to be the largest recorded in recent years in terms of both extension and intensity. Chile's Deputy Interior Minister, Máximo Pavez, described the situation by noting that what usually rains in a month, fell in just one hour, classifying the precipitation as abnormal and extreme.
The Coquimbo and Atacama regions, typically known for their arid, desert-like climate, have been the most affected. On July 20, 2026, President José Antonio Kast officially declared a constitutional state of catastrophe for public calamity, which immediately enables military deployment and the rapid allocation of emergency resources.
For our international readers, a state of catastrophe in Chile is a constitutional measure similar to a state of emergency. It empowers the Armed Forces to take control of logistics, security, and the coordination of evacuations. This drastically speeds up the delivery of aid and protects citizens in areas where infrastructure has collapsed, such as blocked highways and completely isolated towns.
Source: Senapred and local media (July 20, 2026)
Despite the severity of the storm, rescue and recovery efforts are moving forward with hope. Over 1,000 people have been successfully sheltered, and emergency services are working tirelessly. The government has assured that all material and economic resources are available to face this emergency and support the affected communities.
This extreme weather is also having a significant impact on the Argentine side of the Andes. According to El Día, historic snowfalls have hit the mountainous and pre-mountainous areas of Mendoza and northern provinces. The Cristo Redentor pass—the main tunnel highway connecting Mendoza, Argentina, with Valparaíso, Chile—has remained closed since July 14, 2026. This extreme event is associated with the El Niño phenomenon, a complex weather pattern characterized by the warming of the Pacific Ocean, which significantly alters typical climate patterns in the region.
Authorities in both Chile and Argentina are strongly advising prevention: avoiding unnecessary travel and strictly following Civil Defense guidelines to overcome this climate challenge with as little damage as possible.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
