Floods Claim 13 Lives Across Chile

Relentless heavy rains across central and southern Chile have triggered devastating floods, leaving at least 13 people dead and seven others missing. The severe weather has forced over 2,200 residents to evacuate, damaged or destroyed thousands of homes, and left roughly 87,000 people without electricity. Warning of ongoing dangers, Chilean Emergency Office head Alicia Cebrian stated that “waterways, streams, and riverbanks have weakened; in some, the risk of rising water levels still persists.” As a safety precaution, local authorities have shuttered schools across four heavily impacted regions. Meanwhile, Interior Minister Claudio Alvarado announced government plans to penalize electricity distribution companies for their sluggish response in restoring power to affected communities.