A storm with hail and heavy rain flooded at least 20 homes in Curacautín, a municipality in the foothills of the La Araucanía Region, on the afternoon of Monday, October 12. Curacautín is about 90 kilometers northeast of Temuco, the regional capital.
According to La Tercera, the municipality's fire commander, Carlos Sánchez, deployed all units in the urban area. "A lot of water fell," he said, explaining that crews were using heavy machinery to clear a blockage that had formed in the Centenario area.
The regional president of the fire service, Javier Pizarro, explained that the hail and rain fell within 20 minutes, causing a sudden rise in the flow of streams crossing the municipality.
According to BioBioChile, the Loncopira stream overflowed and flooded five homes in Villa Centenario. Another channel, near the Manuel Rodríguez neighborhood, mainly affected Nuevo Oriente street, where 15 homes were damaged. There, water rose to more than a meter deep inside homes and flowed as far as international route CH-181.
The same outlet reported another affected home at Calama and Chorrillos after the Manzano Ko stream overflowed. Municipal crews and backhoes cleared blocked spots: the rain carried sediment that clogged stormwater drainage pipes.
A resident told 24 Horas that she lost furniture, food and some animals that drowned. She said it was the sixth time her area had flooded recently, though never on this scale.
Meteorologist Alejandro Sepúlveda wrote on X that more than 11 millimeters of rain fell in an hour and that the Manuel Rodríguez neighborhood was the hardest hit. No authority confirmed that measurement.
The regional director of the National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (Senapred), Ian Gorayeb, noted that a preventive early warning for possible thunderstorms remains in effect in La Araucanía. He warned that intense rainfall over short periods could recur and urged people to avoid going outside when storm clouds appear.
Several homes will be uninhabitable tonight because of the damp, and affected families will stay with relatives. The sources have not yet reported an official municipal damage assessment or any pledged assistance.
