SANTIAGO — Severe flooding has crippled Chile’s capital, Santiago, turning major thoroughfares into rushing waterways and forcing authorities to declare a state of catastrophe.
The declaration came on Thursday, October 9, 2026, as President Jose Antonio Kast responded to the escalating crisis caused by torrential rainfall that overwhelmed the city’s infrastructure.
Visuals from the scene depict entire streets submerged, effectively creating rivers in the urban landscape and disrupting daily life for thousands of residents. The severe weather has prompted emergency measures as officials work to manage the rising waters and ensure public safety across the affected areas.
Is the infrastructure planning to blame? Santiago has had drainage issues for years, so this flooding isn’t exactly a surprise.
This looks terrifying. Hope everyone in the flooded districts is safe and gets the aid they desperately need right now.