Central Chile Floods Prompt Helicopter Evacuations Amid Powerful El Niño

Police helicopters have airlifted dozens of residents from Talagante as torrential rains sent the Mapocho River over its banks.

Helicopter hovering over flooded area in Talagante
Helicopters rescue residents at the banks of the Mapocho River in Talagante.

The two‑hour storm in the Metropolitan Region released more than 74 mm of rain in the first week of October, a figure that eclipses the average for the month and marks the wettest Octobers in 76 years.

Santiago’s local meteorologists predict that the ongoing 2026‑2027 El Niño will continue to drive wet weather, high winds and storms throughout the southern‑hemisphere spring.

Authorities confirmed that a body was recovered from a flooded underpass in San Bernardo, though the exact cause of death remains under investigation.

Unlike the July floods, Talagante had not been evacuated prior to the storm, and dirt roads quickly turned into rivers, trapping homes and pets overnight.

Climate scientists warn that the strong El Niño could trigger above‑average rainfall in the region and exacerbate similar flash‑flood risks worldwide.