Helicopter rescues cut through flood‑saturated streets of Talagante
Police in central Chile have air‑lifted several residents to safety after heavy rains caused the Mapocho River to burst its banks. The river overflowed overnight, leaving homes flooded and many families trapped underground in the pet‑friendly town 35 km south‑west of Santiago.
An unexpected “El Niño‑spring” phenomenon has been blamed for a record‑setting October of rain, with Santiago receiving 74 mm in the first week – the wettest such start in 76 years. Meteorologists warn that the 2026‑2027 El Niño could keep the region wetward through the Southern Hemisphere’s spring.
Authorities confirmed that one person died in a flooded underpass in the city of San Bernardo, south of Santiago, though the cause of death has not yet been fully established.
In Talagante, police hovered numerous helicopters over muddy riverbanks, extracting people and their pets that had been caught by the razor‑fast rise of water overnight. Dirt roads that had once hosted commuters were now swift rivers, prompting rescue crews that had not been alerted ahead of the downpours to act on the spot.
The event underscores how anticipated El Niño‑related weather can push Central Chile toward serious flooding, a threat that could intensify as global climate change alters patterns. Residents remain on high alert while emergency services continue to monitor the Mapocho and the surrounding areas.
