Heavy rains have triggered flash floods and mudslides in Chile's capital, Santiago, and surrounding areas, injuring at least six people, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of households and damaging thousands of homes, according to authorities.

President José Antonio Kast declared a state of emergency in the eastern Santiago suburb of Las Condes following severe flooding on Thursday, Oct. 8, as torrents of water, mud and debris swept through streets, carried away vehicles and blocked major roads.

More than 1,000 people were rescued or received emergency assistance, while six people were reported injured, including a one-year-old child who suffered a fracture. Authorities said no deaths or missing persons had been reported in the initial assessments. <escape> </escape>

The affected area recorded approximately 144 millimeters of rainfall in recent days, nearly nine times the average October precipitation, according to Las Condes Mayor Catalina San Martín. The heavy downpours saturated the ground and overwhelmed drainage systems, triggering sudden torrents of water and mud.

The Mapocho River also overflowed its banks, prompting evacuation orders in vulnerable areas. Emergency crews were deployed to rescue residents, clear blocked roads and assess damage to homes and public infrastructure.

Authorities reported extensive damage in Las Condes, particularly in the San Carlos de Apoquindo area. Preliminary assessments on Friday indicated that more than 2,000 homes had sustained damage, while dozens were considered seriously affected and potentially uninhabitable.

The flooding also affected a medical facility, where water entered lower-level areas, forcing the evacuation of patients and the temporary disruption of services.

Chile's National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (Senapred) issued red alerts for 10 municipalities at risk of further landslides and flooding. Schools were ordered to close in the affected areas on Friday as emergency services continued rescue and recovery operations.

Authorities deployed firefighters, police, military personnel and heavy machinery to clear debris, assist residents and reduce the risk of further mudslides. Officials also urged people to avoid affected areas and unnecessary travel as crews assessed the stability of slopes and drainage channels.

The storm had earlier damaged dozens of homes and disrupted electricity supplies, leaving nearly 12,000 customers in Santiago without power.

Authorities said the disaster was triggered by intense rainfall concentrated over a short period. Officials were also investigating whether a blockage in an underground drainage channel contributed to the sudden overflow in Las Condes.

The combination of saturated ground, steep terrain and large volumes of runoff increased the risk of additional flooding and landslides, prompting emergency teams to monitor vulnerable areas.

The floods come amid growing concerns about the effects of the El Niño climate phenomenon, which influences rainfall and temperature patterns worldwide.

The World Meteorological Organization has warned that the developing El Niño could intensify toward the end of the year. However, the specific contribution of the climate phenomenon to the rainfall in Santiago has not been conclusively established.

Chile's spring season typically brings changing weather conditions, but the unusually heavy rainfall has placed significant pressure on urban drainage systems and emergency response services.

Authorities said rescue efforts, damage assessments and preventive measures were continuing as they worked to protect residents from further flooding and landslides. (ILKHA)