Kast visits Biobio as floods claim three lives and disrupt 257,000 households
Torrential rain and fierce winds have triggered widespread infrastructure failure, halting mining operations and forcing evacuations ahead of further rainfall forecasts.
President Jose Antonio Kast has departed for the Biobio region to assess the scale of damage caused by torrential rain and fierce winds that have lashed central and southern Chile. The visit marks one of the first major natural disasters to test the administration since Kast was inaugurated in March 2026, following his 2025 election campaign on a hardline platform. Kast posted from the road, noting that while conditions were heavy, routes remained passable, and urged citizens to take care as he surveyed the government’s response efforts.
The National Emergency Office (SENAPRED) has confirmed at least three deaths and seven injuries resulting from the severe weather. Fatalities include a labourer clearing a road in Negrete, a person who fell while cleaning a roof in Temuco, and a victim of a fatal electric shock in Santiago. The agency has reported that 466 people are currently housed in shelters, with 158 residents isolated by rising water levels, predominantly in the Coquimbo region.
Infrastructure and public services have faced significant disruption. Approximately 257,000 people are without power, with outages concentrated in the southern regions. Schools in affected areas suspended classes on Friday, while state-owned mining giant Codelco halted surface operations at the Andina mine in the Andes due to storm conditions. The economic impact on industrial operations remains under assessment, though immediate production at the site has ceased.
Evacuation orders have been issued for the Campamento Ribera del Rio area near Talagante as river levels continue to rise. SENAPRED head Alicia Cebrian indicated that some evacuations were preventative measures, underscoring the ongoing risk to communities in flood-prone zones. The agency continues to monitor isolation levels and shelter capacity as water levels fluctuate across the affected regions.
Further heavy rainfall is forecast for Friday in Chile’s central zone, prompting authorities to maintain heightened alert status. Kast has pledged institutional support for those affected by the flooding, a promise made less than six months into his term. The government is now focused on stabilising affected areas and managing the logistical challenges posed by the continued adverse weather conditions.
