MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Santiago flooded and a cold front with snow

After 70 millimeters of intense rainfall in just 24 hours followed by extensive flooding in the metropolitan area, eastern Santiago, next to the Andes, was exposed on Sunday to hail and then snow for the enjoyment of children unused to such a climatic phenomenon.

According to the Chilean Meteorological Office snow is expected to last for several hours and then will be followed by a cold front with freezing temperatures which will peak for several hours below zero next Wednesday and Thursday in the central third of the country's territory.

The Chilean Emergency Committee late Sunday reported that because of the pouring rain and floods, 1.753 people were left homeless and have been taken care of; four underground passes collapsed; 16 critical road crossings and highway accesses to Santiago have been identified; most channels crossing the city are overflowed, but the underground system was working normally.

Government officials which have been criticized for not having warned with anticipation of the intensity of the rainfall argued that there are some critical points, "but the city services of Santiago have not collapsed".

"In some areas of Santiago the last 48 hours rainfall was equivalent to a full year's average downpour. Actually given the intensity of climatic conditions I believe the city has managed very well", emphasized Interior minister Francisco Vidal.

"Early tomorrow morning we'll be making another situation assessment but I can now say that schools will open and operate normally", added Mr. Vidal.

The minister admitted problems with the water supply because of insufficient pressure and excessive turbidity caused by the overflow of some pumping areas. However he insisted the situation would be normalized by Monday and denied the Santiago sewage system had collapsed.