A strong wave on the coast of Vina del Marin the region of Valparaisosurprised and alarmed residents and tourists traveling along busy Perú Avenue, which had to be closed as a precaution. The abnormal swells, which affect a large part of the Chilean coast, from Arica to the Gulf of Arauco, have led maritime authorities to issue alerts and take security measures to protect the population.
According to the Valparaíso Meteorological Centerthe storm surges, which are expected to persist until December 31, have reached high waves that directly impact the coastal edge, making mobility and safety in areas close to the sea difficult. Images captured by security cameras show waves covering streets and surprising pedestrians.
He Second Lieutenant Gabriel Aguayofrom the Port Captaincy of Valparaíso, reported that it was decided to close Perú Avenue in its entirety to avoid greater risks. In addition, maritime police personnel carry out preventive patrols throughout their jurisdiction. Aguayo stressed that the intensity of the phenomenon will continue to increase, which is why he asked the population to take extreme precautions and respect the measures adopted by the authorities.
The phenomenon occurs in the middle of a weekend of high tourist influx in the region, due to the proximity of the New Year celebrations. This has generated uncertainty about the performance of the traditional fireworks show scheduled for the night of December 31.
David Lopezcaptain of the Port of Valparaíso, pointed out that the event will be “subject to sea conditions” and that, if necessary, decisions will be made such as the suspension of passenger boarding or the installation of rafts for pyrotechnics.
The phenomenon of anomalous waves is not limited to Chile. In Peruauthorities closed 91 ports on the northern and central coasts of the country due to the intensity of the waves, which have caused significant material damage and left fishermen trapped in their boats.
According to the National Institute of Civil Defense (Indeci)the storm surges have affected towns such as Tumbes, Piura and the port of Callao, where flooding was reported.
The Minister of Defense, Walter Astudillosupervised emergency actions in the impacted areas, highlighting the rescue of 31 crew members of small vessels and the assessment of damage to tourism and fishing infrastructure. The Peruvian Navy estimated that the waves will reach their greatest intensity during the weekend, and then gradually decrease on Monday.
In Ecuadorthe situation has claimed the life of a fisherman missing since Friday in the town of Barbasquillo, province of Manabí. The National Secretariat for Risk Management (Sngre) reported that the body was recovered by the Manta Fire Department.
The phenomenon, which affects several coastal provinces such as El Oro, Santa Elena, Guayas and Galapagos, has led to the Navy Oceanographic and Antarctic Institute (Inocar) to issue an alert for a rough sea state, with waves up to 2.1 meters high.
Inocar explained that the storm surges are due to a phenomenon known as “Swell”, characterized by long period waves generated by distant storms in the Pacific Ocean. The authorities recommended that the population avoid the beaches and follow official instructions.
In Chile, the proximity of the festivities has led the authorities of Valparaíso and Viña del Mar to carry out constant monitoring of sea conditions. A navigation is expected to take place on Monday, December 30, to assess whether it will be safe to continue with preparations for the fireworks show.
Meanwhile, in Peru and Ecuador, emergency actions continue to mitigate the damage caused by strong waves and guarantee the safety of residents and tourists who visit coastal areas during the end of the year celebrations.
