Starting this Tuesday, a new frontal system affects the south of the country, specifically in the Bio Bío and La Araucanía regions, causing rivers to overflow and isolated people as a result of intense snowfalls.
As stated Cooperative Radioin the Bio Bío region, the overflowing of the Pichilo and Laraquete riverbeds, in the commune of Arauco, has been reported due to the heavy rains that affect the area.
Given this event, the presidential delegate of the Province of Arauco, Humberto Torospecified that “in some communes we have had some affectation of one or two houses due to flooding of water, in which the road and the corresponding municipalities have been working.”
“We are monitoring the Pichilo and Laraquete rivers, which is where the greatest amount of water has accumulated and, therefore, there is a much faster, higher torrent. However, at this time we do not have affected homes,” he added, adding that “the rain has stopped at this time and that can help to decant more quickly the possibility of flooding and damage to housing in these two channels.”
Video via Twitter: @CEspinozaQ
The frontal system also caused different preventive measures, such as the one decided by Conaf with the closure of the Laguna Laja National Park in Antuco due to snowfall, as well as the Nonguén National Park in Concepción due to rainfall that is estimated to leave about 40 centimeters of Water.
Araucania
Meanwhile, in the region of La Araucanía, the snowfalls have caused roadblocks, as well as more than 1,300 isolated people.
The regional director of Onemi, Janet Medranopointed out that “in relation to the snowfall monitoring that has affected our area in recent days, it should be noted that at the regional level 1,310 people remain in isolation, of which 1,066 correspond to the Lonquimay commune and the rest are distributed among the communes of Curarrehue, Pucón and also Cunco”.
In addition, he added that “we call for caution, especially in driving, in areas and on routes that could be affected by this weather condition.”
For its part, Vialidad reported that they are working on the routes to clear them of snow with four machines.
Video via Twitter: @arevalopress
