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Students Escape Mudslide by Climbing Onto Bus Roof
10 Oct
Summary
- A bus carrying students was swept backwards by a mudslide.
- Passengers climbed onto the bus roof to escape rising mud.
- Six people were injured, including a baby with broken bones.
On Thursday afternoon, October 8, a sudden and powerful mudslide surged through San Carlos de Apoquindo following heavy rainfall. The torrent, originating from the Honda ravine, carried mud, rocks, and branches, inundating streets and overflowing a canal.
A bus carrying University of the Andes students was caught in the disaster, reportedly swept backwards by the deluge. Witnesses described passengers escaping the rising mud by climbing onto the bus's roof, with one student submerged up to their hips in mud.
The bus struck trees and utility posts before becoming lodged against two large trees, narrowly avoiding a nearby strip mall. Several medical facilities and universities also experienced flooding, trapping some individuals.
Emergency crews launched extensive rescue operations. Six individuals sustained injuries, including a one-year-old girl with multiple fractures. No fatalities were reported. More than 1,000 people were evacuated from their homes across Santiago due to the flash floods and landslides.
High alerts were issued across ten districts, with Las Condes declared a disaster zone. Power outages affected nearly 12,000 residents, and dozens of homes were damaged or flooded. The scale of the event was attributed to unusually heavy rainfall saturating steep slopes.
