Service disruptions in Antofagasta, Chile

In Antofagasta, Chile, municipal services and educational activities have faced disruptions due to environmental and infrastructure issues. On August 14, the Corporación Municipal de Desarrollo Social (CMDS) suspended classes in all municipal schools and high schools following a massive water outage. The shortage, affecting over 40% of the city's population, was caused by electrical supply failures following recent rainfall, which led to operational issues at the North Desalination Plant.

Following these events, Mayor Sacha Razmilic announced further suspensions for August 17 and 18. Due to a forecasted meteorological event, the municipality suspended CMDS classes and public services at Antofagasta City Hall to mitigate risks from heavy rainfall, potential flooding, and traffic disruptions. To manage the weather alert, municipal teams and security resources—including surveillance cameras, citizen security patrols, OS-14 patrols, and drones—have been deployed. While primary health centers (SAPU and SAR) remain operational under backup power and water protocols, their extended hours have been suspended.

As of August 16, the meteorological impact has spread across the Antofagasta Region. A frontal system has prompted the suspension of classes in five communes, including Tocopilla, Mejillones, and Taltal, to protect students and families from heavy rain and high winds.