SANTIAGO, July 23. /Dunyo IA/. At least 10 people have died in Chile due to heavy rains that have continued for a week, reports Dunyo IA correspondent, citing the AP.

The government of President José Antonio Kast has declared a state of emergency following one of the largest natural disasters in recent decades. Heavy rains and strong winds have hit the northern regions of Atacama and Coquimbo, which are usually considered among the country’s driest areas.

Authorities are providing assistance to more than 100,000 residents cut off by flooding. Official data shows that 16 people have been injured, while more than 4,000 residents have been forced to leave their homes, with around 1,000 of them staying in temporary shelters.

The disaster has completely destroyed 81 homes and damaged more than 20,000 residential properties. Chile’s National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (Senapred) has issued evacuation warnings in 10 of the country’s 16 regions.

According to Senapred, more than 104,000 people remain stranded due to overflowing rivers and flooded roads. Although rainfall has weakened, water levels in rivers remain at dangerous levels.

Meteorologists link the increased rainfall to the return of the natural climate phenomenon El Niño, which is associated with rising temperatures and can lead to extreme weather events. In South America, the phenomenon typically occurs every 2–7 years and can bring prolonged periods of heavy rainfall.