Government announces preventive climate emergency between Arica and Coquimbo due to new rainfall scenario

President José Antonio Kast led an Emergency Committee at La Moneda on Monday to monitor the weather scenario affecting and threatening various areas in the north of the country, after which the government announced the declaration of a preventive climate emergency between the regions of Arica and Parinacota and Coquimbo. The measure was formalized through decree No. 1,269 of the Ministry of the Interior, as reported by the Minister of the Interior and Government Secretary, Claudio Alvarado. The declaration will last from this Monday until August 16. Alvarado explained that the decision aims to anticipate administrative procedures and coordination that may be required in the event of an emergency. "Response times are important, and it is necessary to have a prompt and timely reaction to the impacts that may occur both to people and infrastructure," he said. In this regard, he stated that the decree will enable the mobilization and allocation of necessary resources to address an initial emergency phase, facilitating the response of various public agencies. Coordination with regions and the Armed Forces During the meeting, Kast noted that regional governments and presidential delegations in Arica and Parinacota, Tarapacá, Atacama, and Coquimbo are activated and coordinated with local authorities. The President added that an evaluation of necessary coordination with the Armed Forces has been requested, considering that Atacama and Coquimbo maintain current states of emergency, as he indicated. "We have also requested the eventual coordination that must be made with the Armed Forces," Kast affirmed. The President also highlighted the preparation of shelters, monitoring of ravines through remote and on-site systems, and the availability of machinery from the Ministry of Public Works to respond to potential connectivity issues. Additionally, satellite communication monitoring is in place to prevent affected sectors from being left without means to receive alerts or contact authorities. Possible suspension of classes Another aspect addressed by the government concerns a potential suspension of classes in areas that could be affected. Alvarado explained that coordination channels have been established so that any decision of this kind is made in a structured manner and with information from Senapred and the Ministry of the Interior, according to the conditions in each region. The Executive also instructed regional presidential delegates to maintain coordination with public agencies, including the Armed Forces, to have personnel available for potential humanitarian aid tasks. Monitoring potential damages Similarly, the government also anticipates the possibility of re-establishing technical tables to continuously monitor the evolution of the weather system and its potential consequences. "With the gathering of information from the affected zones, we can define courses of action and solutions that may arise at that moment, mainly regarding connectivity, housing damage, productive system impacts, and potential basic service disruptions," he detailed. "The best response to an emergency is prevention through anticipation," Alvarado concluded.