Chile Climate Emergency Covers 7 Regions
President Kast declared a preventive emergency for seven regions, including Santiago, ahead of a frontal system with up to 35 mm of rain forecast on 20 October. The post Chile Climate Emergency Covers 7 Regions appeared first on The Rio Times .
On Saturday 17 October 2026, President José Antonio Kast declared a climate emergency for seven regions in Chile, ranging from Coquimbo to Biobío, spanning from Sunday 18 to Friday 23 October. This preventive action was announced on social media platform X, citing reports from the disaster agency Senapred and weather predictions of intense rain, hail, and landslides. The affected areas include Santiago, Valparaíso, and the wine valleys near the capital.
The decision comes in response to recent floods and landslides in central Chile, including the disaster that struck Las Condes on 8 October. The decree, Exempt Decree No. 1,407, is published in the Diario Oficial (edition 44.576-C) and signed by Interior Minister Claudio Alvarado, following the president's order. This measure is covered by Article 11 of Law 21.364, which establishes the national disaster prevention and response system.
Under the decree, regional education officials are required to assess whether to suspend classes where conditions warrant. The national weather service, Dirección Meteorológica de Chile (DMC), issued a thunderstorm notice for the afternoon of Monday 19 and the night of Tuesday 20 October, covering the entire region from Coquimbo to Biobío.
The notice warns of hail and strong local gusts. Rain alerts for various regions predict between 20 to 35 millimeters of precipitation, with Santiago valley and foothills of the Andes receiving the highest amounts.
Santiago's presidential delegate, Germán Codina, reported that the national geology and mining service (Sernageomin) raised its landslide alert from moderate to high. Santiago is still recovering from the aluvión (flood) on 8 October, which left 384 people affected, 1,000 evacuated, and 56 homes destroyed. Senapred subsequently declared a red alert for the Metropolitan Region on Tuesday 13 October, following the storm's impact.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry issued a 45-day health alert for the entire Metropolitan Region, effective as of Saturday 17 October. This alert allows the ministry to hire additional staff, expedite medicine procurement, and set up modular care units. Santiago's city hall has deployed crews in four sectors to clear drains, and Mayor Mario Desbordes anticipates the most severe weather scenario, involving hail and flooding.
The emergency declaration does not automatically suspend classes; instead, regional education officials must determine if conditions necessitate such measures. Travelers in Santiago, Valparaíso, and the wine valleys should monitor official Senapred and DMC channels for updates and adjust their plans accordingly. Local authorities advise residents to prepare for the heaviest rain on Tuesday 20 October and take precautions to avoid mud and contaminated water, which could lead to stomach and respiratory infections.
Written by urgent.news from The Rio Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
