Chile rains cause over US$1bn in damage

Heavy rains in central-south Chile caused around 904bn pesos (US$1.1bn) in damage to the agricultural sector, which was still reeling from flooding in June.

Around 274,000ha were flooded, compared to 120,000ha previously.

Some 440 irrigation systems were affected and Maule region was the worst hit, sustaining damage of nearly 427bn pesos, followed by O’Higgins with 198bn pesos, according to the natural resources information department.

The rains also destroyed canals that were being built in the aftermath of the June floods.

“Water security isn’t only reservoirs and flood defenses,” agriculture minister Esteban Valenzuela told a senate committee during a public hearing.

He said the agriculture ministry is trying to speed up financial assistance to farmers and that the government is proposing a commission to analyze the infrastructure deficiencies that facilitated the flooding. 

After the June floods, the government allocated US$425mn to reconstruction, which was expected to take up to two years in some cases.

Meanwhile, the June and August floods are estimated to have caused infrastructure and housing damage of US$900mn, daily El Mercurio reported, quoting data from Pontificia Universidad de Chile.

Public works minister Jéssica López will present an overview of the infrastructure damage to the senate on Wednesday.