More than 200 people were evacuated from four buildings in the resort of Viña del Mar on Chile’s central coast after a massive landslide caused by heavy rains, authorities said. Valparaiso region.
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The images show buildings around 17 stories high overlooking the sea on the edge of a cliff. A road at the foot of two buildings on the sea side has partially disappeared due to the landslide in the early hours of Monday.
The evacuated buildings were built on dunes, sparking criticism from local authorities and experts. A month ago, another landslide occurred nearby.
Photo AFP
“Building on dunes is a tricky thing,” admitted Jessica Lopez, Chile’s public works minister, during a press conference earlier this week.
Photo AFP
“I will try to rent a smaller apartment and speed up the administrative and legal procedures to see if we can re-enter the premises,” Antonio Gausi, one of the evacuated residents who had just moved in, told AFP on Tuesday last month.
Photo AFP
According to local authorities, up to eight millimeters of water fell in just half an hour on Sunday, a rare weather event.
Viña del Mar is a seaside resort located 120 km from the capital Santiago. An apartment in the evacuated buildings can cost up to $390,000.