Government of Chile declares state of catastrophe in Tocopilla due to rains

Published at: 19/08/2026 10:21 AM

The President of Chile, Gabriel Boric, declared this Tuesday a constitutional state of emergency of catastrophe in the province of Tocopilla, Antofagasta region, after floods, landslides and overflows of streams caused by a frontal system of intense rains affecting the area.

The president announced the measure through his account on the social network X, where he said that “all human and material resources” will be available to face the emergency. The decision was taken one day after the Chilean Meteorological Directorate (DMC) declared the region a climate prevention zone and maintained a current alarm for the coastline and the mountain range of the coast between Taltal and Tocopilla.

The governor of Antofagasta, Ricardo Díaz, reported that 60% of homes in Tocopilla were flooded or flooded by mud. In addition, he specified that all access routes to the city remain blocked by debris, so initial aid will arrive by air while land roads are being cleared.

The director of the National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (SENAPRED), Alicia Cebrián, confirmed the death of a driver in Antofagasta as a result of a traffic accident caused by rocks falling on the road. The vehicle was carrying four people, who were injured, Telesur reported.

The authorities reported nearly 2,000 evacuees and the transfer of 540 inmates from a prison compound due to the activation of ravines and landslides. The operation was organized by the Minister of the Interior, Claudio Alvarado, to avoid greater risks in the area.

The frontal system also affected the regions of Arica and Parinacota and Coquimbo, where there were seven victims and 244 people sheltered. In total, the impact of the rains extended to 10 of the country's 15 regions, from the north to the south. The authorities recommended that the population not return to their homes until security conditions are guaranteed and the risk of new landslides disappears.

Mazo News Team