Chile declares state of disaster after severe storms in the north

La Serena – 20 July 2026: Following severe storms in northern and central Chile, President Jose Antonio Kast has ordered a constitutional state of disaster for the entire Coquimbo Region and Huasco Province in the Atacama Region. The measure is intended to speed up the deployment of state resources and facilitate the coordination of rescue operations, relief efforts and infrastructure restoration.

According to current figures from the national disaster management agency SENAPRED, at least five people have died as a result of the severe weather, which has continued for several days. Four people were still reported missing on Monday. More than 2,200 people nationwide were registered as affected, while around 1,180 people were staying in emergency shelters. Nearly 100,000 people were temporarily cut off from their surroundings due to disrupted transport links.

The Coquimbo Region and Huasco Province were particularly hard hit. Heavy rainfall caused rivers to swell, flooded roads and triggered landslides. Drinking water and electricity supplies were disrupted in several localities. Authorities also reported damage to numerous homes; the full extent of the damage is still being assessed, as emergency crews are only gradually reaching many hard-to-access areas.

The Chilean government had already taken precautionary measures in several regions before the latest peak of the storm. Classes were suspended in the Coquimbo Region and Huasco Province for Monday, 20 July. Schools also remained closed in parts of the Valparaiso Region. The decision was intended to avoid travel on hazardous roads and ease the burden on emergency services.

With the state of disaster now in force, the government has additional options to secure access to affected areas, distribute relief supplies and coordinate clearance operations. President Kast said state agencies must act quickly, especially where flooding, landslides and failures of critical services are putting the population at risk. Health Minister Ximena Aguilera also announced a health alert for Atacama and Coquimbo.

The severe weather extended across large parts of Chile. While damage assessments continue in the south and central regions, rescue and relief measures in the north are focused on Coquimbo, Huasco and neighboring communities. Weather conditions remained tense on Monday. Authorities warned of further heavy rainfall and possible dangers from swollen rivers, landslides and damaged transport routes.

The casualty figures and information on building damage may still change as search and assessment work progresses. For affected families, the immediate priorities are safe accommodation, restoring water and electricity networks, and reopening cut-off roads. The government said it would continue to assess the situation and direct assistance based on the findings of local damage assessments.