An intense mid-winter storm has swept across Chile, triggering deadly flooding, isolating rural communities and knocking out power to a quarter of a million households from the northern semi-arid Coquimbo region all the way south to Los Lagos. The Chile storms and floods are the country's most damaging winter weather event of 2026, and forecasters warn that the heaviest rainfall is still to come.
Chile's national disaster prevention and response service (SENAPRED) confirmed at least three storm-related fatalities as bands of heavy rain and winds gusting past hurricane-force battered the country beginning July 16. A roadworks laborer was killed while clearing debris in the southern town of Negrete, a resident died after falling while attempting to clear a roof in Temuco, and a third victim suffered a fatal electric shock in the capital, Santiago. Seven others were reported injured, and 466 people remain in emergency shelters — some evacuated as a preventative measure ahead of forecast river rises. Another 158 residents, most of them in the Coquimbo region, have been isolated by rising water and impassable roads.
Roughly 257,000 customers were without electricity on Friday, the majority in the southern regions of Biobío, La Araucanía and Los Ríos, where crews raced to reconnect service between successive bands of heavy rain. Classes were suspended in several districts, and state-owned mining giant Codelco temporarily halted surface operations at the Andina mine as the storm intensified. President José Antonio Kast traveled to the hard-hit Biobío region to survey damage and coordinate with regional authorities, warning residents that the worst downpours were still expected in the days ahead.
International humanitarian responders have activated to support the government's response. The Chilean Red Cross has deployed volunteers to shelter operations and welfare checks across the impacted regions, coordinating with the IFRC on regional support. Save the Children is mobilising Latin America teams to focus on child protection in shelters and support for displaced families. CARE is working with local partners on food, water and sanitation assistance for evacuated communities, and Direct Relief is coordinating medical supply pre-positioning for clinics in areas cut off by flooding.
To support families displaced by the storm, visit the Chile storms and floods disaster page or explore the full Relief Directory to find other ways to help.
