Chile: Heavy rain triggers widespread flooding across northern Chile.

RESTRICTION: USERS MUST CREDIT “@ignacioesteban___ VIA INSTAGRAM” HANDOUT —EDITORIAL USE ONLY— SHOTLIST TOCOPILLA, CHILE (AUG. 18, 2026) (@ignacioesteban___ VIA INSTAGRAM - RESTRICTED) 1. VARIOUS OF MUDDY FLOODWATER COVERING ROAD / TRUCKS AND OTHER VEHICLES STRANDED ON FLOODED ROUTE FOLLOWING MUDSLIDETOCOPILLA, CHILE - AUG. 18 - RESTRICTION: USERS MUST CREDIT “@ignacioesteban___ VIA INSTAGRAM” HANDOUT —EDITORIAL USE ONLY—: Heavy rain triggered widespread flooding across northern Chile on Tuesday, Aug. 18, affecting Antofagasta, Iquique and Tocopilla as floodwaters and mudflows swept through parts of the region. Footage from the road to Tocopilla showed muddy floodwater covering the route and leaving trucks and other vehicles stranded after a mudflow cut off the road. Chile's Meteorological Directorate recorded unusually heavy rainfall in Iquique, where precipitation far exceeded the city's normal annual total. Chile's disaster response agency SENAPRED issued red alerts for Antofagasta, Taltal, Mejillones and Tocopilla. President Jose Antonio Kast Rist declared a constitutional state of catastrophe for Tocopilla province. Interior Undersecretary Maximo Pavez was deployed to the region, with a National Defense chief set to coordinate forces in the affected area.