Helicopters Rescue Chile Residents from Floods

Police in central Chile have airlifted several residents to safety after rising floodwaters left them trapped in their homes.

Recent torrential rains caused the Mapocho river to burst its banks, flooding large parts of the city of Talagante, 35km south‑west of Santiago.

Santiago has seen 74mm of rainfall in the first week of October, making it the rainiest month for the area in 76 years. Meteorologists say the unusually strong El Nino will continue to bring wet weather, strong winds and storms to the region during the southern hemisphere's spring.

Officials said one person had been found dead in a flooded underpass in San Bernardo. The cause of death is still unconfirmed.

In Talagante, police used helicopters to rescue people and pets living along the riverbanks. Dirt roads turned into rivers overnight, and the community had not been evacuated ahead of the downpours, unlike earlier storms.

Climate experts warn that the 2026-2027 El Nino could bring major shifts in weather patterns worldwide, intensifying droughts in some areas and floods in others. Central Chile is expected to receive above‑average rainfall.