Chile Travel Warning

Chile Travel Warning

Southern America

Current information

After the devastating forest fires of recent weeks, the disaster alarm was largely lifted at the beginning of the week. Disaster alarms continue to exist in isolated provinces. Constantly updated information can be found on the website of the Chilean civil protection agency Onemi under external link, opens in new windowwww.onemi.cl. The fires can lead to power and telephone network failures as well as road closures and traffic delays in the affected areas.

Travelers are advised to follow the developments in the media, avoid affected areas and strictly follow the instructions of the local authorities. The national parks are now open again.

Country-specific safety information

In the vicinity of Temuco (VIII. And IX. Regions) there are regular attacks on vehicles, with violent criminals occasionally also blocking highways. The police advise not to use highways in the IX at night (8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.). Driving in the region and the surrounding area. Visitors should pay attention and behave defensively in the event of attacks. Visiting poorer residential areas without someone familiar with the area should be avoided.

Throughout the country there are repeated demonstrations in connection with internal political disputes, in some cases with violent riots. Travelers are advised to stay away from any protests or other violent actions in the country, if necessary to contact their tour operator and to follow further developments in the media or on site. Foreigners who take part in violent demonstrations and / or are arrested in their vicinity face deportation.

Crime

Throughout Chile – especially in the city center and the Bellavista district of Santiago, as well as in Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, Calama and San Pedro de Atacama – backpacks and pickpockets are regularly stolen from tourists, often with the use of force. The perpetrators sometimes use so-called knockout drops or nerve poisons, which make the victims incapable of acting for several hours. Another variant is the so-called bird droppings trick. A mushy liquid that smells of bird droppings is poured over tourists. Bystanders immediately provide “help” with cleaning. Meanwhile, their accomplices use the distraction of those affected to steal at lightning speed. So please try to keep your distance and, if possible, leave the scene immediately.

Break-ins in rental cars are no longer uncommon. There are also increasing attacks on waiting cars at intersections and traffic lights. The perpetrators hit the car window to z. B. to steal bags from the passenger seat. Bags and valuables should be stowed in a place that is not visible from the outside. In addition, parked rental cars have their tires stung. While bystanders want to provide “help” and involve those affected in a conversation, their accomplices take advantage of the situation to steal. In such situations, bring your valuables to a safe place and leave the scene immediately. Because of the breakdown, you should contact the rental company who can recommend a towing service if necessary.

In bus stations, in public places, on the beach, in restaurants, cafes and supermarkets, as well as on metro journeys, you should not lose sight of your luggage or personal belongings and should always have them close by.

Overall, great caution is required. In particular, passports, driver’s licenses, plane tickets and money / credit cards should be locked in the hotel or worn securely on the body.

Volcanic eruptions / earthquakes

The activities of the Villarica and Calbuco volcanoes observed in mid-2015 have subsided again. Nevertheless, caution is still required, as the situation on site can change at short notice. Any instructions from the local authorities must always be obeyed.

The following volcanoes have also been active in recent years:

-Volcano Llaima in the National Park Conguillío in the Región de la Araucania (frequent eruptions, most recently in 2008 and 2009)

-Volcano Chaitén in the Región de los Lagos (last eruption 2008)

-Volcano Puyehue in the Región de los Riós (last eruption 2011)

– Lascar volcano in the Antofagasta region (increased volcanic activity at the end of 2011)

– Hudson volcano in the Aysén region (increased volcanic activity at the end of 2011)

– Copahue volcano in the Bío-Bío region (increased volcanic activity in May 2013)

As a country located in South America according to areacodesexplorer, Chile is an earthquake-prone country, in which unpredictable tectonic and volcanic activity must always be expected. The most recent severe earthquake occurred on September 16, 2015 with a magnitude of 8.4 on the Richter scale and particularly affected the northern region of Coquimbo. The quake claimed 13 lives.

A severe earthquake measuring 8.2 on the Richter scale on April 1, 2014 in northern Chile (regions Arica y Parinacota, Tarapacá and Antofagasta) left six people dead.

Smaller tremors are the order of the day. Travelers should therefore familiarize themselves with instructions on how to behave in the event of earthquakes and, in particular, the resulting tsunamis. During the last quake, almost 1 million people along the entire Chilean coast were evacuated into the adjacent hills within a very short time due to the tsunami warning.

Further information under external link, opens in new windowgfz-potsdam.de

Constantly updated information can be found on the website of the Chilean civil protection agency Onemi under external link, opens in new windowwww.onemi.cl.

Land mine hazard

Under the military government that ruled until 1990, the entire border area with neighboring states, on various smaller islands in the XII. Region and in Region V (Sector San Antonio – Tejas Verdes) laid almost two hundred thousand landmines. The Chilean government had these landmines cleared several years ago. The evacuation has been completed on the border with Argentina, but is making slow progress in the north and especially on the border with Peru. Due to heavy rainfall in February 2012, some mines in the coastal area on the border with Peru were washed up on the beaches.

The landmines were cleared from public roads and paths. However, the marking of the minefields is not guaranteed across the board or is not available in impassable terrain. Especially in remote areas, travelers should only use paved roads and paths in these areas.

Chile Travel Warning