The municipalities of Providencia and Ñuñoa suspended classes at their municipal schools and high schools for Wednesday, October 14. The decision follows rain, hail and thunderstorms that caused flooding across the Metropolitan Region on Tuesday, October 13.
Providencia Mayor Jaime Bellolio made the announcement in a video, according to BioBioChile. He explained that the schools need to remove accumulated water and be ready to welcome the school community.
Bellolio urged residents to remain "calm" and described the scale of the emergency. The municipality received more than 1,900 calls in two hours, so it prioritized buildings with flooded basements.
To pump out the water, the municipality is using its own motor pumps and will add two supplied by the Regional Government (GORE) and another five to be sent by the Municipality of Las Condes.
The municipal building itself suffered damage. According to the mayor, water rushed into the basements, and a couple of vehicles on level -3 were completely flooded. Staff pumped the water out onto Miguel Claro Street, and the water level has already fallen considerably.
Bellolio said no staff members were injured. He warned that Traffic Department services will be unavailable on Wednesday, although the 1414 phone line, inspection services and the Community Development Directorate (DIDECO) are operating normally.
In Ñuñoa, the Municipal Corporation for Social Development (CMDS) said the suspension was a preventive measure following Tuesday's weather events, according to CNN Chile.
On Wednesday, CMDS teams will inspect school premises to assess their infrastructure and safety, identify damage and determine the appropriate measures.
Neither municipality has yet announced whether classes will resume on Thursday. In Providencia, Bellolio said he would provide information in the coming hours on the operation of local health clinics and Community Family Health Centers (CECOSF) through the municipality's social media accounts.
