On Sunday, May 25, 2025, the southern Chilean city of Puerto Varas was struck by a rare and powerful tornado, an event that stunned residents and meteorologists alike. Tornadoes are exceedingly uncommon in Chile due to the country's unique geography, which typically prevents the atmospheric conditions necessary for such storms to form.
The tornado caused significant destruction in just minutes: over 250 homes were damaged, power lines and trees were knocked down, and thousands of residents were left without electricity. Local authorities reported at least 19 people injured, though fortunately, no fatalities occurred. Videos shared on social media captured surreal scenes of overturned vehicles, shattered windows, and roofs ripped from buildings, underscoring the scale of the disaster.
In response to the disaster, Desafío Levantemos Chile, the CBi Member Network in the country, quickly mobilized emergency teams to assess damage, clear debris, and restore essential services. Only a few hours after the tornado, the team led by Askaan Wohlt, Emergency Director of Desafío, was on the ground in Puerto Varas, working with authorities to assist community recovery efforts. Currently, Desafío is visiting the most affected areas, gathering information and activating support measures for the affected families.
Desafío’s swift deployment demonstrates how CBI member networks leverage their local knowledge and established partnerships to provide immediate, effective disaster response that bridges community needs with business sector capabilities.
The organization has a broad network of business partnerships and alliances on standby to support their emergency operations. In this case, , the emergency personnel of Desafío were able to deploy immediately to Puerto Varas thanks to their long-term strategic alliance with the Chilean airline SKY. Currently, the national television channel TVN is broadcasting live coverage of their activities on the ground.
The tornado in Puerto Varas stands as a stark reminder of the growing unpredictability of weather patterns and the importance of coordinated community, business, and governmental response in the face of disasters.