Chile Tornado Damage： Rare EF-2 Strikes Requínoa, Destroying a School Gym

Tornadoes are not a common weather phenomenon in Chile. However, a powerful tornado that formed in the late afternoon of Monday, October 26th in the O'Higgins region in the central part of the country destroyed a school gymnasium in the town of Requena, damaged more than 70 homes, and left thousands of customers without power. While authorities declared a red alert in the town, the Chilean Meteorological Directorate initially classified the tornado as an EF2. EF2 is the third level on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, which classifies tornadoes based on the damage they cause. This category corresponds to wind speeds between 179 and 218 kilometers per hour. The scale starts at EF0 and goes up to EF5 for the most powerful tornadoes. Wind speed is not measured directly on this scale. It is estimated based on the damage caused. According to Chilean authorities, an EF2 tornado can rip the roofs off sturdy homes and lift vehicles off the ground. Juanito, if you want, you can come back. The tornado struck Requena, located about 100 kilometers south of the capital Santiago, around 5.30 p.m. According to Raúl Valenzuela, a climate researcher at the University of O'Higgins, the tornado began forming south of the neighboring town of Machalí and reached the town from there. Mayor Waldo Valdivia said the tornado touched down in Los Perales and then moved toward the Rosario Road. According to Valenzuela, the tornado also passed through Rengo. The tornado was so large that it could even be seen from the country's main highway, Ruta Finque Sur. Videos taken in the area quickly spread on social media. The footage shows the tornado passing right next to houses, trees, and roads. One of the area's hardest hit was Tricahue School. Students were at school when the tornado struck. The gym was completely destroyed and the roof, windows and storage containers sustained heavy damage. The school principal reported that no one was injured. According to Mayor Valdivia, the areas most affected were Los Perales, Villa Los Jardines and the school's immediate surroundings. Valdivia described the situation as very serious, noting that nearly everything in the area had been destroyed and roofs had been blown off. The situation was no different in the town's neighborhoods. Alicia Cebrián, director of the disaster management agency Cenapred, had initially reported that the roofs of 25 homes were damaged. The number of damaged homes rose to over 70 during the day. According to Chile's national police, the Carabineros, one of the hardest hit areas was Las Dalias Street, where many trees were also uprooted. There's a tornado on the side of the rock. Despite the extensive damage, the tornado did not result in any fatalities. The government said no one was injured, though regional officials later reported one person with minor injuries and several residents treated for panic attacks. The military also provided support to the town, where Senapred had declared a red alert. According to a statement by Interior Minister Claudio Alvarado, soldiers helped repair damaged roofs and prevent further damage. Camino Santiago, kilometer 112, will be a tornado. Polls toppled by the tornado and zinc sheets blown onto power lines left the town in darkness. According to the Superintendency of Electricity and Fuels, more than 8,000 customers were without power in the first few hours. According to the latest data, more than 5,000 customers are still waiting for power to be restored. How are you? The storm's impact extended to transportation. Chilean state railways, EFE, temporarily suspended service between San Fernando and Rancagua due to adverse weather conditions. Trains traveling from Santiago's Estación Central to San Fernando were only able to reach as far as Rancagua. Behind the tornado was a frontal system that brought rain and storms to central Chile. According to Arnaldo Zuniga of the Chilean Meteorological Directorate, the weather in the region was highly unstable. Warm, humid air rising quickly from the ground created the conditions for storm clouds to grow rapidly. The same system intensified further in the southern Maule region, where lightning and heavy hail were reported. The storm that hit Requinoa is part of a rainy spell that has been ongoing since last week. Santiago is experiencing its wettest October since records began in 1914. According to experts, these unseasonable rains have been intensified by El Niño. This climate phenomenon, which warms the surface waters of the Pacific, is altering wind and rainfall patterns worldwide. The storm warning, however, covers a much wider area. Alvarado announced that the warning remains in effect from the metropolitan region, where the capital is located, all the way to Biobío in the south. In Santiago, a red alert was issued in some communities near the Andes Mountains due to the risk of flooding and mudslides. In Las Condes, which recently experienced a flood disaster, and the neighboring town of Lo Barnechea, residents were urged to stay away from riverbeds and hillsides. It's happening here, it's happening here. Requinoa is not the first place in Chile to experience a tornado this year. On July 27th, a tornado was recorded in Chillan Viejo, in the Ñuble region. On October 13th, an EF0 tornado that formed in Santiago's Estación Central district tore off part of the roof of the Terminal Sur bus terminal. According to researchers, the previous tornado in the capital occurred in 1893. Just five days before Riquinoa, on October 21st, a tornado damaged homes in Retiro, in the Maule region. The tornado in Riquinoa, however, was stronger than all of these events. The Chilean Meteorological Directorate based its initial assessment of the tornado's intensity on videos, the tornado's size, and preliminary information about damaged homes. Suniaga also said that, at this stage, it could be described as an EF-2. The agency's detailed investigation will show whether the EF-2 rating holds.