Three dead as severe storm cuts power across Chile
Al Jazeera reported that more than 590,000 people lost electricity as rain, wind and large waves battered Chile’s coast.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
2 min read
A severe storm in Chile has killed three people and knocked out electricity for more than 590,000 people, Al Jazeera reported. Officials said the system was among the worst to hit the country in 20 years and warned that dangerous weather would continue for several days.
The storm brought heavy rain, strong winds and large waves along Chile’s coast, according to Al Jazeera. The combination of wind and water left broad power disruptions across the country, with the reported number of people without electricity topping half a million.
Officials warn of days more severe weather
Officials cited by Al Jazeera said the storm was still affecting the country and was expected to persist. Their warning points to a prolonged stretch of hazardous conditions rather than a short-lived weather event.
Al Jazeera reported the death toll at three. No further details were provided in the report on the circumstances of the deaths or the areas where they occurred.
The power outages were the most visible measure of the storm’s reach. More than 590,000 people were without electricity as the weather hit, Al Jazeera reported, adding to the impact of the rain, wind and coastal waves.
Coast hit by rain, wind and waves
The storm’s effects were concentrated along Chile’s coast, where large waves accompanied the heavy rain and high winds, according to Al Jazeera. Coastal storms can disrupt transport, damage infrastructure and complicate efforts to restore electricity, though officials in the report did not give a timetable for full power restoration.
The storm was reported on July 17, 2026, as officials continued to assess conditions. Al Jazeera said authorities were warning residents that the severe weather would not pass quickly.
The reported scale of the outage and the official description of the storm as one of the worst in two decades made it a major weather emergency for Chile. Authorities were still expecting several more days of adverse conditions as the system continued to batter the country.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.