Devastating Floods Hit Northern Chile

Unusually heavy thunderstorms brought torrential rainfall to northern Chile's Atacama desert last week, flooding one of the driest regions in the world. Flash floods swept down valleys, cutting off villages, destroying structures, and carrying vehicles for miles. According to Reuters, Chile's President Michelle Bachelet says it will cost at least $1.5 billion to repair the damages caused by the flooding and mudslides that left a toll of over two dozen people dead and nearly another 140 missing. The following photos are of the flooding in several small towns, and the aftermath, as the region gradually returns to normal.

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