Senapred declares red alert in communes of Ñuble due to increased flow of the Perquilauquén river

The National Service of Prevention and Response to Disasters (Senapred) has expanded its red alert for flooding to 11 communes in the Region of Ñuble, according to updated information released this Sunday. The alert covers Yungay, Pemuco, Bulnes, Quillón, Chillán, Ránquil, Portezuelo, Coelemu, Trehuaco, Ninhue and San Nicolás, with the measure remaining in effect until conditions allow its lifting. This expansion follows reports from the Directorate General of Waters (DGA) that the hydrological station PCF Río Itata in Puente Coelemu has reached the red threshold. The decision was coordinated with the Presidential Delegation for the Region of Ñuble, ensuring all available resources remain mobilized to address the extent and severity of the event. The emergency began during the morning of July 31, when the river Lonquén station in Trehuaco initially hit the yellow alert level. Hours later, the increase in flow led Senapred to cancel that alert and issue a red alert for Ninhue, San Nicolás, Portezuelo and Trehuaco. By late night on August 1, the coverage was extended to Quillón after the stations for the river Lonquén and the stream Coyanco reached red levels. The latest update, published at 14:07 hours on Sunday, added six more communes following changes recorded at the river Itata station in Puente Coelemu. In parallel, in the Region of La Araucanía, authorities have been dealing with severe flooding and evacuation efforts. The Provincial Delegate of Malleco, Víctor Manoli, described the evacuation process in Angol as “very traumatic.” He noted that many residents were reluctant to leave their homes due to the ongoing system frontal affecting the country between the regions of Valparaíso and Los Lagos. At one point, the area near Parque Las Rocas in Angol saw a flood, prompting Senapred to send alerts via the Emergency Alert System (SAE). Residents were evacuated from sectors such as Las Rocas 2, Villa La Arboleda and Santa Teresita due to flooding from the River Vergara. The delegate emphasized the need to suspend classes in Angol for two days, citing the prolonged nature of the situation and the number of affected households, around 800 people. According to the latest report from Senapred, 76 individuals have been identified as victims of the floods, with 25 houses suffering major damage and 35 experiencing minor deterioration. The delegate highlighted the challenges faced during the evacuation, including mechanical issues with three military trucks used in the operation. A shelter has been set up at the Juanita Fernández School by the municipality to accommodate displaced residents. Meanwhile, the deputy Andrea Parra of the Party for Democracy (PPD) has called for the government to declare a disaster state for Angol and the northern part of the Araucanía region. She argues that the scale of destruction necessitates an extraordinary response from the State to expedite resource delivery and strengthen aid to affected families. Parra stated that while emergency teams have worked since the beginning of the crisis, the magnitude of the damage requires broader governmental intervention. She mentioned that local authorities, Carabineros, firefighters and the military have been actively assisting, but now the focus must shift to rapid support for hundreds of residents who have lost everything. The situation in Angol has become particularly dire, with heavy rainfall causing rivers to overflow and forcing the evacuation of several areas through SAE messages. Military, fire department, police and municipal teams continue working to rescue people, assist families and contain the emergency. According to Catedrin Savaria, head of Senapred’s Emergency Management Department, the system frontal has left approximately 8,000 people affected by flooding and service disruptions, with around 5,000 isolated due to river overflows. The most impacted communes include Angol, Lumaco, Traiguén, Cholchol and Carahue, where emergency teams remain deployed to handle situations arising from intense rains. One of the most concerning areas is Las Rocas 2 in Angol, where 273 families are being evacuated preemptively due to the rise of the River Vergara. Authorities maintain continuous monitoring of the situation in the Araucanía region, where concerns persist regarding the behavior of the rivers Vergara, Renaico, Cholchol and Imperial, along with ongoing work to extract water and protect homes in the most affected parts of Angol.