Chile's Housing Ministry issues manual for safe building on dune and maicillo slopes

The Chilean Ministry of Housing and Urbanism released a Manual of Recommendations for the Design and Construction of Buildings on Dune and Maicillo Slopes, published in 2025 by the DITEC and technically developed by a committee of specialists from the Institute of Construction. The guide calls for stronger water‑management practices throughout design, construction, inspection and maintenance to mitigate risks such as intense‑rain erosion, sinkholes, and slope failures.

Michel Kure, civil engineer and chair of the committee, emphasized that precipitation must be treated not only as a hydraulic issue but also as a geotechnical and urban problem that can increase moisture, surface erosion, gullies, foundation undermining, and local landslides. The manual recommends an integrated approach to water handling—capture, conveyance, evacuation, dissipation and infiltration control—through properly sized collectors, crown channels, downspouts, closed conduits, energy dissipators and controlled releases. It also stresses preserving natural terrain drainage and avoiding increased runoff toward vulnerable downstream areas.