From the town of San Félix, in the commune of Alto del Carmen, the governor of Atacama, Miguel Vargas, requested this Saturday that President José Antonio Kast decree a regional state of emergency due to the effects of the snowmelt, which have significantly raised the flow of the El Carmen River and generated difficulties for the communities in the area. The regional authority warned about the damage recorded to water infrastructure and the isolation in which some families remain, as well as the risks faced by residents in the event of a possible flood and overflow of the riverbed. "As a result of the impacts currently being generated by the snowmelt on the water infrastructure, and the isolation in which some families here in Alto del Carmen currently find themselves, we specifically want to request that the President of the Republic decree a state of emergency due to snowmelt in the Atacama Region," Vargas stated. The governor explained that the declaration would allow public services to adopt administrative measures to respond to the situation. Among the alternatives, he mentioned the possibility of moving up the end of the school year in San Félix, in order to prevent students from having to travel through areas exposed to possible flooding. "Probably, here in the town of San Félix, it will be necessary to decree the early end of the school year to guarantee the safety of the boys and girls who have to travel from different points that are in a condition of risk here in the commune," he added. The regional governor also described the conditions of the river and its effects on the area. "The riverbed has grown significantly, with the water coming down with great force, causing damage to infrastructure and isolation for some families," he said. The request became known after, minutes before noon, the National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (Senapred) instructed people to avoid approaching the banks of the El Carmen River and its surroundings, due to the strong rise associated with the snowmelt. The agency activated Emergency Alert System (SAE) messages to warn the population. The governor insisted on the need for the measure to be adopted during the day. "It is urgent that a state of emergency due to snowmelt be decreed now, not tomorrow, in the Atacama Region, and we ask this responsibly of the President of the Republic," he emphasized.