Nevados de Chillán hotel destroyed by major fire

A major fire destroyed the Hotel Alto Nevados at the Nevados de Chillán tourist complex in Chile. The blaze, fueled by strong winds known as the puelche, spread from the upper floors to the ski school, restaurant, and equipment rental areas, leaving the hotel building completely destroyed.

Approximately 119 guests and 100 staff members were present at the time of the incident. All individuals were safely evacuated, though many guests reportedly fled with only the clothes they were wearing, leaving behind personal belongings and equipment. The fire has disrupted local activities, including the temporary cancellation of lower-level competitions and forcing international athletes, including a Slovenian ski team, to seek alternative accommodations.

The Ministry Public has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire, with authorities considering both human action and electrical failure as potential hypotheses. While the affected area remains restricted for forensic evaluations by Labocar and OS9, the Nevados de Chillán complex has announced a gradual reopening of non-affected areas, including the ski center and other hotel facilities.