by Allanah Leahy – EM TV Online
Six people have died so far, in floods that have affected over a thousand, causing emergency shelters and a halt in production in Chile’s copper mines.
Over 120,000 homes were left without electricity following the floods, which came last week after months of drought to the relief of local farmers and resort owners.
The South American nation of around 18 million also experienced some of its heaviest sea swells in 40 years, with waves reaching up to 10 metres high, damaging many seafront tourist spots along the Chile’s central coast.
Meanwhile, residents expressed frustration at the lack of government action, which was also experienced in the country’s disastrous 2007 earthquake.
“More than a metre of mud came into the house. Everything a metre from the ground has been lost, absolutely everything. I have to start from scratch all over again. This is the second time, first because of the earthquake and now because of the flooding. And nobody has come to help,” a Chilean resident told Reuters.
Source: Reuters
