ReliefWeb

DHA-GENEVA 93/0171

CHILE - MUDSLIDES/FLOODS
DHA-GENEVA INFORMATION REPORT NO. 1
5 MAY 1993

1. HEAVY RAINS AND MELTING OF SNOW DUE TO UNSEASONALLY HIGH TEMPERATURES, CAUSED OVERFLOW OF CHANNELS 'LAS PERDICES' AND 'SAN CARLOS' RUNNING THROUGH THE SOUTH/EAST PART OF SANTIAGO. AS A RESULT, FLOODING, MUDSLIDES, AND ROCKS AFFECTED POPULATED DISTRICTS FROM 10AM TO 2PM ON 3 MAY 1993. ACCORDING TO PRELIMINARY INFORMATION CONVEYED BY DHA/UNDP REPRESENTATIVE AS OF 4 MAY, 20 PEOPLE WERE KILLED, 80 WERE MISSING, AND APPROXIMATELY 500 WERE INJURED. 400 HOUSES TOTALLY DESTROYED AND AT LEAST 1,000 HOUSES NEEDED RECONSTRUCTION/REPAIRS. TEMPORARY WATER SHORTAGES OCCURRED IN THE CITY DUE TO BLOCKING OF WATER PLANTS.

2. FLOODS ALSO AFFECTED CODEGUA, COYA AND THE NORTH-SOUTH HIGHWAY IN CACHAPOAL PROVINCE INTERRUPTING WORKS AT EL TENIENTE COPPER MINE.

3. EMERGENCY HANDLED SO FAR WITH NATIONAL RESOURCES. FINANCE MINISTRY ALLOCATED FIRST INSTALLMENT OF USD 1,266,000 FOR RELIEF. VICTIMS WERE EVACUATED TO SCHOOLS AND OTHER SHELTERS AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES APPEALED FOR FOOD AND WARM CLOTHING.

4. NO REQUEST FOR INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE RECEIVED BY DHA-GENEVA.

DHA-GENEVA 414242 DRO CH +

DESK OFFICER: F. GENTILONI, EXT. 3512
DUTY OFFICER: N. SOLOMATINE
FACSIMILE: +41-22-917-0023
SWITCHBOARD: +41-22-917-1234
DIRECT DIALLING: +41-22-917 + EXTENSION
EMERGENCY ONLY: +41-22-917-2010
TELEX: 414242 DRO CH
ELECTRONIC MAIL: ID UNX008

DPR 310 CHI

DHA-GENEVA 93/0178

CHILE - MUDSLIDES/FLOODS
DHA-GENEVA INFORMATION REPORT NO. 2
7 MAY 1993

1. BELOW IS AN UPDATED GOVERNMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF SITUATION AND DAMAGE, AS CONVEYED THROUGH UNDP/DHA REPRESENTATIVE IN CHILE:

SANTIAGO

• 21 DEAD
• 58 INJURED ONLY
• 88 MISSING
• 3,218 AFFECTED, OF WHOM 1,225 LIVING IN SHELTERS
• 400 HOUSES DESTROYED
• DAMAGE TO PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE (ROADS, BRIDGES, STREETS, WATERSHED PROTECTION, ETC) ESTIMATED AT USDLRS 12.5 MILLION.

2. EMERGENCY NEEDS OF VICTIMS COVERED WITH NATIONAL RESOURCES THROUGH GENEROUS PUBLIC SOLIDARITY AND DISTRIBUTION OF WARM CLOTHES, FOOD, BEDS, BLANKETS AND KITCHEN TOOLS. WATER PRODUCTION REESTABLISHED 90 PERCENT. OVERALL SITUATION HAS NOW IMPROVED.
ELSEWHERE

- V REGION. MAIN DAMAGE OCCURRED ON ROAD CONNECTING LOS ANDES WITH MENDOZA (ARGENTINA). LANDSLIDES AND AVALANCHES INTERRUPTED ROAD IN 14 POINTS AT ALTITUDES BETWEEN 822 AND 2,880 METRES. GOVERNMENT EXPERTS FORESEE FOUR MONTHS WORK AND USDLRS 15 MILLION INVESTMENT REQUIRED FOR RESTORATION OF HEAVY TRUCKS' TRAFFIC. MEANWHILE, SUCH TRAFFIC DIVERTED THROUGH PUYEHUE PATH (CONNECTING OSORNO TO BARILOCHE) INCREASING DISTANCES AT AN AVERAGE OF 2,000 KM. THIS WILL HAVE CONSIDERABLE IMPACT ON TRADE, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE VOLUME OF EXPORTS TO ARGENTINA AND PARAGUAY (MAINLY FRUITS) ANDINDUSTRIAL IMPORTS FROM BRAZIL.

- VI REGION. HEAVY RAINS DAMAGED CROPS AND INTERRUPTED WORKS AT EL TENIENTE MINE, AND AT COYA HYDROELECTRIC PLANT WHOSE MACHINERY IS COVERED BY 1.5 METRES OF MUD.
DHA-GENEVA 414242 DRO CH +

DESK OFFICER: F. GENTILONI, EXT. 3512
FACSIMILE: +41-22-917-0023
SWITCHBOARD: +41-22-917-1234
DIRECT DIALLING: +41-22-917 + EXTENSION
EMERGENCY ONLY: +41-22-917-2010
TELEX: 414242 DRO CH
ELECTRONIC MAIL: ID UNX008
DPR 310 CHI