Urban service disruptions in Chile and Colombia

In mid-September 2026, urban services in Chile and Colombia faced various disruptions. In Santiago, Chile, traffic diversions were scheduled for Avenida Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins on September 13 to accommodate the Te Deum Evangélico ceremony at the Catedral Evangélica de Chile. These restrictions affected private vehicles and Red Movilidad buses, requiring detours via Avenida Víctor Jara, General Velásquez, and Avenida Padre Hurtado.

In Colombia, water service interruptions were reported across multiple regions. Initial scheduled maintenance and network repairs were set to affect several localities in Bogotá and Soacha, including Chapinero, Engativá, and Ciudad Verde, between September 14 and September 18.

Beyond scheduled maintenance, more urgent disruptions emerged due to infrastructure damage and environmental factors. In Bogotá, a sudden pipe failure in a main distribution network near Avenida Ciudad de Cali caused service suspensions in the Suba locality, necessitating the use of water tankers for priority areas such as health centers. In the rural area of La Buitrera near Cali, the El Niño phenomenon reduced the Lili River flow, forcing the utility Acuabuitrera to implement rationing affecting approximately 14,000 people.

Other regional developments included utility providers in Pereira addressing over 800 instances of damage following an earthquake, and the Nariño Departmental Assembly approving 22.228 billion pesos for new water infrastructure in Ipiales. In Medellín, Mayor Federico Gutiérrez announced a temporary suspension of nighttime water rationing following rainfall that replenished the Piedras Blancas reservoir, though authorities warned rationing could resume if conditions change.