Historic Chile Storm Kills at Least Three, Leaves Hundreds of Thousands Without Power

A powerful storm system battered Chile in mid‑July, affecting ten of the country's sixteen regions with record July rainfall and wind gusts up to 160 km/h. The event caused three confirmed deaths (later reports mentioned a fourth) and destroyed or severely damaged around 100 homes, while about 800 houses suffered varying levels of damage.

More than 400,000 households lost electricity and thousands of residents were evacuated from informal settlements and riverside neighborhoods as rivers overflowed. Authorities declared a red alert in the Valparaíso region and extended emergency warnings to all affected areas. Gastón Torres, director of Chile’s Meteorological Directorate, described the weather as “exceptional,” noting the intensity and geographic extent placed it among the most significant recent events.

Emergency crews continue to respond to flooding, landslides, and disrupted transport, with the outlook indicating additional rain may persist in the coming hours.