Recently, the town of Puerto Varas in the southern lake region of Chile was hit by a powerful tornado, causing damage to hundreds of homes and other buildings, with at least 19 people injured. Chilean President personally visited the scene to inspect the disaster.
According to Chilean authorities, on Sunday afternoon (May 25th), an EF-1 level tornado with speeds of up to 180 kilometers per hour struck Puerto Varas, located nearly 1,000 kilometers south of Santiago, causing severe destruction along its path. The disaster led to 19 injuries and over 250 buildings damaged, with numerous trees and power poles knocked down, leaving the area in ruins.
The Deputy Minister of the Interior, Victor Ramos, stated on Monday that this powerful tornado resulted in power outages for 13,000 households in Puerto Varas and water cuts for 400 households. Currently, the town has fully restored its drinking water supply, and the electricity system has been reinstated to 85%.
The National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response in Chile has issued a red alert for the region and continues to enhance weather monitoring and warning efforts.
Chilean President Gabriel Boric visited the disaster area on Monday, where he announced the distribution of cash vouchers for residents to purchase daily necessities and the provision of temporary shelters for those affected. The government is taking steps to support the affected population during this challenging time.