Chile expands school closures as severe weather front hits multiple regions

The Ministry of Education (Mineduc) and the Interior Ministry announced an expanded suspension of classes on Monday, 20 July, due to a powerful weather front affecting central‑north Chile. The suspension now includes all schools in the Coquimbo Region, the Huasco province of Atacama, the continental part of the Valparaíso Region, the communes of Copiapó, Caldera and Tierra Amarilla in Atacama, and San José de Maipo in the Metropolitan Region. In the Biobío Region, the Local Public Education Service (SLEP) also suspended classes in 24 schools for maintenance work, while other municipalities confirmed closures for Tuesday, 21 July, across numerous communes in Coquimbo, Atacama, Valparaíso and the Metropolitan Region. The teachers' union, Colegio de Profesores, criticised the limited scope and urged authorities to extend the suspension to other rain‑affected regions such as Metropolitana, O’Higgins, Ñuble and La Araucanía. Meanwhile, the SLEP Santa Corina confirmed normal classes in Maipú, Cerrillos and Estación Central after safety inspections, and regional officials coordinated hybrid learning for students at the damaged Punta de Parra school in the Biobío Region to maintain educational continuity.