Chile and Peru prepare for flooding risks amid El Niño

Authorities in Chile and Peru are preparing for increased hydrological risks due to heavy rainfall and the El Niño phenomenon. In Quilaco, Chile, the mayor has requested that Enel implement anticipatory water releases from the Ralco dam to create storage capacity and mitigate downstream flooding, following an incident where four homes were inundated and 12 families were evacuated.

In northern Peru, meteorologist Abraham Levy warns that rainfall in Tumbes and Piura is expected to increase in frequency and intensity as spring progresses, driven by anomalous sea warming. In Sullana, the provincial mayor has warned of potential overflows of the Chira River, noting that sediment accumulation has reduced the river's capacity to handle high water volumes. While current rainfall remains sporadic, officials are bracing for more sustained patterns later in the season.