A total of ten emergencies were addressed in various sectors of the municipality due to water accumulation, according to the latest report from the Municipality of Punta Arenas following the intense rainfall recorded in recent days. According to official information, calls were received through the hotline 800 800 134, which activated an uninterrupted deployment of municipal teams on the ground, prioritizing areas with flooding, difficulties in rainwater drainage, and accumulation in critical sectors, especially in peri-urban areas. Mayor Claudio Radonich highlighted the work done by the staff, particularly in the prolongation of Mardones.
“Our personnel worked until nearly one in the morning to drain a lagoon that was obstructing transit. Today the area is open, allowing access to Pampa Redonda,” he stated. The authority also warned about irregular interventions that have worsened the situation in some parts of the city.
“We have detected cases where individuals have modified land or interfered with the natural water flows, which ends up affecting other neighbors. Therefore, it is essential to act responsibly and respect natural waterways,” he emphasized. Another complex issue was recorded near the 18 de Septiembre Sports Complex, where water accumulation affected nearby homes.
In this location, the obstruction of drains within a private property was identified, and the responsible parties have already been informed for prompt resolution. On her part, the Director of Disaster Risk Management, Sonia Vargas, detailed that the main emergencies were concentrated in areas such as Mateo de Toro Zambrano, prolongation of Mardones, and Pampa Redonda. “The most complex situation remains the water accumulation in homes near the complex at 18, where until the obstruction of the drainage system is resolved, the impact continues,” she indicated.
Regarding the details of the responses, these mainly involved flooding of yards and homes, water accumulation on roads, overflow in low-lying areas, and drainage issues. To address these situations, heavy machinery, extraction pumps, and channeling work were used. Additionally, during the day, progress was made in opening key routes, such as the prolongation of Mardones, where profiling work is currently being carried out to improve transitability after the removal of accumulated water.
The municipality reported that, although weather conditions have improved and no new rainfall is forecasted in the immediate future, teams will remain on alert for potential new frontal systems. Meanwhile, repair work on roads damaged by the rains has already begun. Finally, the municipal authority reiterated the call for prevention and self-care, urging the community to keep rainwater drainage systems clear and to avoid interventions that could disrupt their functioning, with the aim of reducing risks and protecting families in the municipality.