The government of Chile declared a state of catastrophe in the Huasco province of the Coquimbo region on July 20, 2024 [4].

The declaration follows a series of intense rainstorms that triggered devastating floods and mudslides. These events have isolated entire communities and disrupted basic services, forcing the government to mobilize emergency resources to prevent further loss of life.

President Gabriel Boric led the response as the nation dealt with the immediate aftermath of the storms. Reports on the death toll vary, with some sources citing at least five fatalities [1], while others report up to 10 deaths [2]. The severe weather caused widespread structural damage, including the destruction of more than 1,100 homes [3].

The flooding has paralyzed infrastructure in the Coquimbo region, where mudslides blocked primary transit routes and cut off access to remote villages. The state of catastrophe allows the government to implement restrictive measures and deploy the military to assist in rescue and recovery operations.

Beyond the immediate crisis in Huasco, the Chilean government took broader precautions to mitigate further risks. A preventive state of emergency was established across 10 of the 16 administrative regions [5] to prepare for continued extreme weather patterns.

Local authorities are currently focusing on restoring electricity and water services to the impacted areas. Efforts continue to locate missing persons and provide temporary shelter to the thousands of residents displaced by the flooding.

“The government of Chile declared a state of catastrophe in the Huasco province.”

The scale of this disaster and the subsequent emergency declarations across more than half of Chile's administrative regions highlight the country's increasing vulnerability to extreme weather. By declaring a state of catastrophe, the Boric administration is prioritizing rapid military and civil intervention to stabilize infrastructure and prevent a larger humanitarian crisis in the Coquimbo region.