Landslide sweeps away vehicles at Chile's Iquique free trade zone
A landslide triggered by heavy rainfall swept away several trucks and cars parked at the Zona Franca de Iquique (Zofri) in northern Chile.
Mud and debris from nearby ravines reached the vehicle storage area, carrying vehicles down the hillside. Footage filmed on Friday shows trucks and cars piled together at the bottom of the area, while heavy machinery works to clear accumulated mud and debris.
Carlos Navarrete, Tarapaca's regional transport official, said authorities were working to clear the Marinero Desconocido road, a key route for freight traffic heading to the port of Iquique.
Zofri General Manager Enrique Montealegre said the financial impact was still being assessed and insurance procedures had begun. "Today, we are focused on restoring operations," Montealegre said.
Alamgir Butt, president of an automotive business association in the Zofri Industrial District, estimated losses to the sector at one billion Chilean pesos, around $1.08 million.
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He also criticised what he described as a lack of communication from Zofri following the emergency.
Chile's National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response ordered evacuations in Zofri, the Industrial District and Marinero Desconocido areas due to the risk of further mudslides.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
