President José Antonio Kast declared a state of catastrophe for the Coquimbo region and Huasco province on Monday, July 20, 2026 [1].
The emergency decree allows the government to mobilize resources and personnel more rapidly to address a humanitarian crisis caused by a severe frontal system. This weather event has crippled infrastructure in northern Chile, leaving thousands of residents without basic services.
The storm system triggered devastating floods and landslides, which led to the deaths of five people [2]. Search and rescue operations continue as four individuals remain missing [3]. The environmental impact has been severe, with river levels rising rapidly and causing significant flooding in urban areas, including La Serena.
Infrastructure damage is extensive across the affected zones. More than 17,000 homes have reported damage [3]. The frontal system also caused widespread cuts to potable water and electricity, leaving many communities isolated from emergency services.
“La situación es dramática,” Kast said [1].
The state of exception grants the administration expanded powers to manage the crisis and coordinate relief efforts. This includes the ability to restrict movement in high-risk areas and requisition property for emergency use to protect the population.
Local authorities in the Coquimbo region have focused on the most critical areas where landslides have blocked primary roads. These blockages have complicated the delivery of food and medical supplies to rural villages. Efforts are currently focused on restoring power and ensuring a clean water supply to prevent secondary health crises.
““La situación es dramática,” Kast said”
The declaration of a state of catastrophe is a legal mechanism in Chile that allows the executive branch to bypass certain bureaucratic hurdles to expedite disaster relief. By centering the response on the Coquimbo region and Huasco province, the government is acknowledging that the scale of the infrastructure collapse—specifically the loss of water and power—exceeds the capacity of local municipal governments to handle without national military and financial support.
