[REVISION HISTORY]

Andes snowstorm continues, more stranded in Catamarca

Updated 7 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-01 19:44 UTC → 2026-08-16 10:04 UTC · added ~~removed~~

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. On 31 July, three people – among them a Rio Tinto contractor – became stranded overnight in La Apacheta, Puna region of Catamarca, after their vehicle was trapped by snow despite earlier instructions to turn back. Rescue teams suspended efforts because conditions remained unsafe. The provincial government learned of the incident through the miners’ union AOMA; no official statement had been issued at the time of reporting. 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.

Versions

Only revisions since CLSTR began indexing content versions appear here. Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.