In brief
A surge in the Mapocho River has left thousands of residents in central Chile’s Talagante trapped under rising floodwaters. Police helicopters quickly airlifted those above the water line, bringing both people and animals to safety. The worst rainfall for the region in 76 years hit Santiago in early October, and experts warn that the ongoing El Niño may prolong the wet season. One victim was found dead in a flooded underpass in San Bernardo, though authorities are yet to confirm the cause.
Police helicopters airlifted residents and pets in Talagante after the Mapocho River burst its banks, leaving thousands trapped inside their homes.
Late‑night torrential rains pushed the river to its limits, flooding large swathes of the town 35 kilometres southwest of Santiago. The damage has forced the Metropolitan Region’s emergency services to operate around the clock.
Santiago recorded 74 mm of rainfall in the first week of October – the heaviest October in 76 years – a trend analysts link to the 2026‑2027 El Niño, which is expected to keep the area drenched through spring.
Authorities confirmed one fatality in a flooded underpass in San Bernardo, south of the capital, though the exact cause of death remains under investigation.
Unlike July’s storms, the community had not been evacuated in advance, and dirt roads in the riverside neighbourhood turned into raging currents overnight. Helicopter crews have also rescued animals who were stranded alongside residents.
