t least 7,000 people are left stranded, and more than 29,000 have been affected by recent flooding due to storms in southern Chile. Of the three provinces in Region VIII bearing the brunt of this natural disaster, Arauco, Concepción and Bío Bío, conditions are most severe in the latter due to the overflow of the river by the same name. As of early morning on Saturday, the Bío Bío’s flow had increased by nearly 150,000 cubic feet per second. This tremendous increase left three river communities completely submerged, affecting approximately 900 people and forcing about 80 individuals out of their homes and into temporary lodging in local municipal buildings. As of Sunday morning, 675 people from the Biobío province were reported injured, according to El Mercurio. CHIP NEWS June 23, 2003
CHIP NEWS
June 23, 2003FLOODS IN SOUTHERN CHILE AFFECT THOUSANDS.
At least 7,000 people are left stranded, and more than 29,000 have been affected by recent flooding due to storms in southern Chile.
Of the three provinces in Region VIII bearing the brunt of this natural disaster, Arauco, Concepción and Bío Bío, conditions are most severe in the latter due to the overflow of the river by the same name. As of early morning on Saturday, the Bío Bío’s flow had increased by nearly 150,000 cubic feet per second.This tremendous increase left three river communities completely submerged, affecting approximately 900 people and forcing about 80 individuals out of their homes and into temporary lodging in local municipal buildings. As of Sunday morning, 675 people from the Biobío province were reported injured, according to El Mercurio.
In Arauco, almost 12,000 people are suffering the effects of the storms, as both the flooding and violent winds destroyed property throughout the coastal area. A significant number of livestock are presumed drowned,
In the province of Valdivia, Region X, winds reached speeds up to 55 miles per hour, and the overflow of the Cruces river in Lanco flooded the road connecting the town to Route 5 South, preventing the transit of vehicles.
Not all of these terrifying displays of natural force are being attributed to nature, however, at least not by the people from Hualqui who have been forced to abandon their riverside homes. Their belief is that the recent opening of four floodgates by the Pangue Hidroelectric Center is to blame for the overflow of the Bío Bío. The center produced reports by professional scientists that disprove this theory, according to the daily La Tercera.
Regardless of the cause, the effects of the flooding in Hualqui, as well as many cities throughout Regions VIII, IX and X in southern Chile, are severe. The National Emergency Office (ONEMI) has established a yellow alert from Region VII to Region X, and in river communities within Region VIII, ONEMI has declared red alert.
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Monti Aguirre
Latin American Campaigns
International Rivers Network
