Disaster authorities in Chile report that over 30,000 people have evacuated their homes after heavy rainfall brought by a frontal system caused floods and mudslides. President Gabriel Boric declared a State of Catastrophe for the hardest hit areas in Biobío and O’Higgins Regions. This is Chile’s second major flood event in 8 weeks.
Floods in Maule Region, Chile, August 2023. Photo: Carabineros Maule
Meteo Chile said a frontal system accompanied by an atmospheric river brought heavy rain to parts of central-southern Chile from 17 August 2023. Areas of Santiago Metropolitan, O’Higgins, Maule, Ñuble, Valparaíso and Biobío regions have all seen significant rainfall totals. In the Maule Region, Retiro Copihue recorded 137 mm and Panguilemo 122.4 mm in a period from 19 to 21 August. In Ñuble Region, Termas de Chillán saw 371.9 mm and Chillán Mayulermo 208.8 mm during the same period. Concepción in Biobío recorded 67.2 mm and El Paico in Santiago Metropolitan Region saw 79.2 mm.
The heavy rain has triggered multiple mudslides and landslides and caused several rivers to break their banks including:
Achibueno River in the communes of Longaví and Linares, Maule Region
Loncomilla river in San Javier commune, Maule Region
Maule River in Constitución and Maule communes, Maule Region
Mataquito River in Sagrada Familia and Hualañé communes, Maule Region
Itata River in Ránquil commune, Ñuble Region
Chillán River in Chillán commune, Ñuble Region
Biobío River in Commune of Negrete, Biobío Region
Laja River in San Rosendo and Cabrero Communes, Biobío Region
Biobío River in Los Ángeles Commune, Biobío Region
Andalien River in Commune of Concepción, Biobío Region
Rapel River in Santo Domingo Commune, Valparaíso Region
Damage to roads and bridges has left thousand of people isolated. According to Chile’s disaster management agency SENAPRED (Servicio Nacional de Prevención y Respuesta ante Desastres), as of 21 August there were 31,002 people isolated in Maule Region and 1,523 in Biobío Region. Hundreds of people were also isolated in areas of O’Higgins and Nuble regions.
Rising rivers have prompted evacuations across the affected areas. In total 32,728 people were displaced across the country as of 21 August, including 24,792 in Maule Region and 7,163 in O’Higgins.
Almost 40 people were rescued by helicopter in Maule Region and 58 in Ñuble.
In total 1,042 houses have been damaged, mostly in O’Higgins Region. Two houses were completely destroyed in Ñuble region.
At least 3 people have lost their lives as a result of the severe weather in the last few days. A firefighter died while carrying out rescue operations in Cañete in Biobío Region on 19 August. Another fatality was reported after a tree fell onto a vehicle in Biobío Region. One weather-related fatality was also reported in Ñuble Region but no further details were available.
On 21 August, President Gabriel Boric declared a State of Catastrophe for affected areas of Biobío and O’Higgins Regions.
This is the second major flood event to strike the country in the last 8 weeks. In late June similar weather conditions resulted in widespread flooding in which at least 2 people lost their lives.
Flood rescue in Concepcion, Biobio, Chile on 21 August 2023. Photo: Carabineros Región del Bío Bío
Social Media
🇨🇱 | Inundaciones sector el Bajo de Talca, región del Maule, #Chile. (Agosto 21, 2023). #Flooding #Floods #Climagram #Temporal pic.twitter.com/e8ejJFjt0b
— ⚠️Alerta Climagram🌎ᵘᶠᵒ (@deZabedrosky) August 21, 2023
Carabineros de la Subcomisaría de Nonguén en #Concepción colaboran con las familias afectadas por inundaciones en el sector Puente 1 de la Ruta N-48. pic.twitter.com/T55fzi0pqv
— Carabineros Región del Bío Bío (@CarabBioBio) August 21, 2023
Carabineros del GOPE BíoBío continúan ayudando a los vecinos del sector Santa Rita en #Concepción, donde junto a personal de la 1ª Comisaría, de salud y de la Municipalidad, entregan agua y verifican las condiciones de salud de adultos mayores. pic.twitter.com/vvyzlydM3k
— Carabineros Región del Bío Bío (@CarabBioBio) August 21, 2023
Con una cuerda y en cadena humana, esta tarde, Carabineros de la Prefectura de #Talca rescataron a 3 hombres y 2 mujeres que se encontraban aisladas en el sector de calle 5 norte con Circunvalación por el desborde del río #Claro en #Talca. pic.twitter.com/OJKJBTNmGq
— CarabMaule (@Carab_Maule) August 21, 2023
#YERBASBUENAS: Durante la tarde, Carabineros del #Gope #Maule rescató a 11 adultos y 5 menores, desde el sector #LaPuntilla en el Río #Putagán , debido a las intensas lluvias. Siempre atentos a los requerimientos de la comunidad, en todo momento. #OrdenyPatria pic.twitter.com/e4GSFdVDQk
— CarabMaule (@Carab_Maule) August 22, 2023
Importantes montos de precipitación ha dejado el #sistemafrontal que ha afectado la zona centro-sur 🇨🇱 y el cuál fue acompañado por un #ríoatmosférico.
+ detalles con los principales montos acumulados de 🌧️entre el 17 y 20agos en el último El Clima hoy👇https://t.co/4J2EpIJAHV pic.twitter.com/iCJpGZuz28
— MeteoChile (@meteochile_dmc) August 21, 2023
Related
Source link : https://floodlist.com/america/chile-floods-august-2023
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Publish date : 2023-08-22 03:00:00
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