The 1991 Antofagasta mudflow was a

natural disaster A natural disaster is "the negative impact following an actual occurrence of natural hazard in the event that it significantly harms a community". A natural disaster can cause loss of life or damage property, and typically leaves some econ ...

in the city of

Antofagasta Antofagasta () is a port city in northern Chile, about north of Santiago. It is the capital of Antofagasta Province and Antofagasta Region. According to the 2015 census, the city has a population of 402,669. After the Spanish American wars ...

, northern Chile, that occurred on the morning of June 18, 1991. The

mudflow A mudflow or mud flow is a form of mass wasting involving fast-moving flow of debris that has become liquified by the addition of water. Such flows can move at speeds ranging from 3 meters/minute to 5 meters/second. Mudflows contain a significa ...

was triggered by an unusual rainfall of 42 mm during the night. Mudflows also affected the port of

Taltal Taltal is a Chilean commune and city in Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta Region. According to the 2012 census, the commune has a population of 11,132 and has an area of . The commune is home to Paranal Observatory and includes the northern por ...

180 km south of Antofagasta. 91 persons are confirmed to have died in the disaster and the whereabouts of an additional 19 have never been clarified. About 700 houses were either destroyed or damaged beyond repairs. In Antofagasta the mudflows from the ''

quebradas Quebradas is a barrio in the municipality of Yauco, Puerto Rico. Its population in 2010 was 883. A literally means "ravine". History Puerto Rico was ceded by Spain in the aftermath of the Spanish–American War under the terms of the Treaty of ...

'' of La Cadena, Salar del Carmen, Baquedano and El Ancla were the most destructive. Other ''quebradas'' were less destructive mudflows developed were Huáscar, Jardines del Sur, Universidad de Antofagasta, Las Vertientes, Caliche, El Toro, Uribe, Riquelme, Farellones, Bonilla Norte, Bonilla Sur, Club Hípico and La Chimba. Bus connection to and from Antofagasta to the south was severed as a number of lines suspended operations and

police The police are a constituted body of persons empowered by a state, with the aim to enforce the law, to ensure the safety, health and possessions of citizens, and to prevent crime and civil disorder. Their lawful powers include arrest and t ...

diverted transit to the city.

References

{{coord, 23, 40, 34.02, S, 70, 24, 10.35, W, source:eswiki_region:CL, display=title es:Aluvión de Antofagasta de 1991 Antofagasta mudflow

Landslides in Chile

History of Antofagasta Region Weather events in Chile Floods in Chile Presidency of Patricio Aylwin

See also

References