A violent storm hits Chile, causing the death of 13 people

A violent storm that struck Chile caused the death of at least 13 people, according to what the Chilean government announced yesterday, Tuesday.

Director of the National Emergency Authority, Alicia Ciprian, told reporters that 13 dead had been counted, while 7 people were still missing.

The storm, which began on July 15, is hitting the Coquimbo and Atacama regions in northern Chile, which rarely witness heavy rain.

The violent storm caused the destruction or damage of about 2,800 homes, the displacement of nearly 2,200 people, and the isolation of more than 60,000, as river floods prevented access to a number of villages.