MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Snow fall freezes Punta Arenas

Several people injured in traffic accidents both in downtown Punta Arenas and in routes leading to the city was the main toll of this year's first strong snowfall Wednesday night, reported Thursday morning the local police in the extreme south Magallanes region of Chile.

Two cars turned over en route to Monte Aymond and another suffered a collision in the access to Punta Arenas airport.

However the Austral Meteorological Office belonging to the Chilean Civil Aeronautics Agency has warned that further snowfalls are expected, almost blizzards, with temperatures dropping to 20 Celsius below zero because of the strong 90 kilometres winds in the region.

Local authorities have put out an alert warning for drivers of icy roads, besides recommending residents to remain at home until the wind factor becomes more normal.

In central Chile 1.200 trucks are blocked at the Chilean-Argentine border following the closure of the Cristo Redentor tunnel because of massive snow falls. Highways authorities from Chile and Argentina reported that a metre high snow is blocking access to the tunnel at both ends.

Officials also strongly recommend truck drivers and personnel to spend the night in Uspallata on the Argentine side to avoid freezing, as has happened in previous similar situations.

Heavy snow sweeping equipment is working round the clock to clear the tunnel's accesses.