Catastrophe in northern Chile due to increased rainfall for half a century

The latest report from the National Emergency Office (Onemi) recorded at least six deaths. 820 houses with minor damage, 78 with major damage and 75 houses destroyed by floods and floods of the Loa River.

The Chilean meteorological direction revealed that the 12 millimeters that fell for three hours on Thursday they have not been registered for 47 years.

The February 10, 1972 precipitated 14.3 millimeters (mm) of water, which represented "the greatest historical precipitation of February"noted meteorologist Alonso Guajardo.

The expert badured that "the phenomenon will continue in February; there is no weakening, and this could last beyond February 10, it is a warning that we renew every three days ".

While Onemi noted that "between today and dawn on Sunday, February 10, the situation will move in the areas of the cordillera and foothills of the Antofagasta region ", the expert pointed out that "Today is the most important day, with rainfall ranging from 10 to 15 mm in the Cordillera and the foothills of Arica and Parinacota to Antofagasta".

He explained that these rains "They always happen in the evening because it is there that we reach the convection temperature, with the humidity coming from the sea and the flow of the high Bolivia".

Heavy rains caused a sinkhole Friday afternoon that destroyed part of the road linking Calama to Chuquicamata. It is an embankment that crosses the river or the river "San Lorenzo", where the traffic was already cut due to the imminent risk of collapse, so that no person or no vehicle was found. was touched.

A few hours later, the president arrived in Calama Piñera, who had to suspend his holidays again because of the emergence of nature.

The president flew over the affected helicopter area and reported damage in the agricultural area not yet measured, as well as in all channels and fluid systems.

He admitted that tourism was also affected and called on the public to visit the city as the region recovers. In this line, the measure to declare a state of disaster is framed.

"This will allow us to adopt certain measures allowing us to go much faster in the recovery processes of the affected areas here in the province."he said.