A backhoe removes earth as a preventative measure to reduce overflows and flooding in the Ramon Ravine in Santiago, Chile, on Tuesday Chile declared a preventive state of emergency across 10 of its 16 administrative regions as authorities warned that an exceptionally severe weather system. Photo by Elvis Gonzalez/EPA
SANTIAGO, Chile, July 16 (UPI) -- Chile declared a preventive state of emergency across 10 of its 16 administrative regions as authorities warned that an exceptionally severe weather system linked to El Niño could bring life-threatening conditions, widespread flooding and significant property damage.
President José Antonio Kast's government issued the emergency declaration ahead of a powerful frontal system expected to trigger flooding, overflowing rivers and landslides in the Andes foothills.
Chile's Meteorological Directorate forecast that the system, which already has reached the country's southern regions, will persist for five consecutive days, bringing heavy rainfall, strong winds, snowfall in the Andean foothills and hazardous coastal conditions.
Central and southern Chile are expected to face three consecutive frontal systems, including a Category 5 atmospheric river, the highest level on the scale used to measure these corridors of concentrated atmospheric moisture. In response to the multi-hazard event, authorities issued the country's highest meteorological alert.
