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7 clusters · 87 sources · 29 days · First seen about 2 months ago · Last updated 27 days ago

Andes snowstorm continues, more stranded in Catamarca

Overview

The mid‑July 2026 Andes snowstorm continues to cripple transport across Argentina and Chile. Heavy snowfall has closed high‑altitude passes, isolated mountain communities and left about 1,500 trucks stranded at the Cristo Redentor border crossing. Argentine Gendarmería Nacional and provincial emergency services have rescued dozens, including families, a puestero, and a newborn in Talhuén, and evacuated 14 Rio Tinto workers after more than 100 hours in –15 °C conditions.

In Catamarca, the storm has caused significant hardship for mining personnel. Four Rio Tinto miners were rescued after being buried under several metres of snow at 4,500m, with some suffering hypothermia and frostbite. The Argentine Miners’ Union and family members have since called for investigations into safety-protocol breaches and the lack of winter emergency protocols. On 31 July, three people, including a Rio Tinto contractor, became stranded overnight in La Apacheta after receiving conflicting instructions regarding whether to turn back; rescue efforts were temporarily suspended due to unsafe conditions.

A large‑scale operation on 28 July freed over 30 trucks and rescued roughly 120 people in the Fiambalá range, with no fatalities reported. The episode follows the recent rescue of 14 miners and the historic operation that saved 211 tourists, underscoring ongoing concerns about high‑altitude safety, weather‑risk assessment and emergency response in the Andes.

Entities

Catamarca Province · Bolivian Customs · Project Fénix · Rio Tinto Group · Balcón del Pissis

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 12 SOURCES] Heavy snowfall in the Andes caused road closures and isolated communities in Argentina and Chile.
[● 5 SOURCES] Heavy machinery such as tractors and excavators was used to clear the snow and free the vehicles.
[● 4 SOURCES] An avalanche trapped a family of five in Calingasta, San Juan, Argentina.
[● 4 SOURCES] Over 100 tourists were isolated on a road at about 4,550 metres altitude near Balcón del Pissis.
[● 4 SOURCES] The rescue effort involved the Argentine National Gendarmerie, provincial police, firefighters, civil‑defence units and the mining company Zijin‑Liex.
[● 4 SOURCES] The rescue operation began on Tuesday (28 February) and continued into Wednesday.
[● 2 SOURCES] Approximately 1,500 trucks were stranded at the Cristo Redentor border crossing due to snow.
[● 2 SOURCES] More than 30 trucks were stranded by snow in the Fiambalá region.
[● 2 SOURCES] Snow accumulation reached up to two metres in some sections of the road.
[○ 1 SOURCE] Fourteen Rio Tinto employees and contractors were stranded for up to 100 hours in Catamarca during a polar storm.
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Chilean Army Aviation evacuated a newborn and her family from Talhuén by helicopter.
[○ 1 SOURCE] A record low temperature of –17.6 °C was recorded in El Calafate, Patagonia.

Timeline

27 days ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 4 sources
Severe snow triggers rescue operations in Chile and Argentina
Emergency services in Chile and Argentina successfully rescued individuals stranded by heavy snow, including Bolivian customs officials and a couple isolated for over 20 days in Neuquén.
about 1 month ago

[POLITICS] 2 sources
Three people stranded in Catamarca's Puna amid snowstorm
Three people, including a Rio Tinto contractor, were stranded overnight in La Apacheta, Catamarca's Puna, after a snowstorm halted rescue efforts; authorities were alerted via union AOMA but had not issued an官方
about 1 month ago

[HEALTH] 5 sources
Snowstorm Strands Over 100 Tourists in Argentina's Fiambalá Andes
A snowstorm in Fiambalá, Argentina, stranded over 30 vehicles and more than 100 tourists near the Balcón del Pissis; rescue teams freed about 120 people, with two treated for hypothermia and no deaths.
about 2 months ago

[BUSINESS] 2 sources
Rio Tinto miners rescued after three days trapped in Catamarca snowstorm
Four Rio Tinto miners were rescued after three days trapped in a -27 °C snowstorm in Catamarca, Argentina, prompting criticism of safety lapses and calls for better winter protocols.
about 2 months ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 13 sources
Andean snowstorm strands trucks, traps families and forces evacuations in Argentina
Andean snowstorm isolates Argentine Andes, traps a family, strands Rio Tinto workers, blocks 1,500 trucks at Cristo Redentor, and forces multiple rescues.
about 2 months ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 50 sources
Four Argentine Miners Rescued After Three Nights in Catamarca Snowstorm
Four miners survived a three‑day entrapment in a Catamarca snowstorm, rescued after using a satellite phone; ~60 responders overcame –30 °C winds, prompting calls for a safety‑protocol review.
about 2 months ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 21 sources
Mendoza snowstorm rescue operation saves 30 people in high mountains
A historic snowstorm in Mendoza's high mountains left >3 m of snow, prompting rescue teams to evacuate 30 people from isolated spots along Route 7; travel remains prohibited as conditions persist.

Sources

2001online.com · acontecercalchaqui.com.ar · airevision.com.ar · alertas24.com · canal13sanjuan.com · canalabierto.com.ar · caraotadigital.net · cincoradio.com.mx · contrapunto.com · cuarto.com.ar · cuestionentrerriana.com.ar · datamarca.com · datanews.com.ar · derf.com.ar · diarioelcentro.cl · diarioelheraldo.cl · diarioelranco.cl · diarioelzondasj.com.ar · diarioextra.com · diariolaprovinciasj.com · diariondi.com · diariopanorama.com · diariosanrafael.com.ar · eju.tv · elaconquija.com · elciudadanoweb.com · elclarinweb.com · eldiario.com · eldiario.com.ar · eldiario24.com · elinformadorchile.cl · elnuevodiario.com.do · elperiodicodemonagas.com.ve · elperiscopio.cl · elpinguino.com · elrancaguino.cl · elreferente.cl · elsol.com.ar · elsolonline.com · enlalinea.cl · entornointeligente.com · epanews.cl · escambray.cu · estacionclaridad.com.ar · extra.ec · fronteranorte.cl · g5noticias.cl · hindi.newslaundry.com

This summary has been updated 7 times: see revision history