2026-10-17

4 Dead, 4 Injured After Avalanche Strikes Near Ski Portillo in Chile





4 people died in an avalanche today near Ski Portillo in Chile and 4 more were injured. Chile’s National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (SENAPRED) confirmed on Saturday that 4 people are dead and it is possible that there may be more missing persons involved in the slide.

The large avalanche struck the alpine basin surrounding Laguna del Inca near Ski Portillo resort in Chile’s Valparaíso Region on Saturday afternoon, triggering a high-altitude search operation.  Emergency crews responded around 2:45 p.m. local time following the slab avalanche. Chile’s National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (SENAPRED) initially issued preliminary reports indicating there were 2 fatalities, while update from SENAPRED at 4:50 brought the count up to 4 persons, Chilean news outlet Emol reports.

In an interview with Chilean television network T13, Valparaíso Regional Presidential Delegate Manuel Millones stated that the large group of individuals involved were Chilean day-tourists mountaineering near a series of peaks called Tres Hermanos in the Laguna del Inca zone. According to Milliones, they were not registered guests staying at the resort. Although the exact number of those involved is ambiguous, with different Chilean news stations reporting different figures, Millones confirmed that SAMU emergency medical personnel successfully evacuated four injured survivors to a hospital in Los Andes for care.

According to statements from Hotel Portillo management cited by regional authorities, resort staff had explicitly warned the group earlier in the day against venturing into the surrounding backcountry due to heightened slide hazards from recent snowfall and warming spring temperatures. It remains unknown exactly what kind of avalanche it was, how it was triggered, and whether members of the group possessed formal avalanche safety training or rescue equipment.

Emergency operations remain ongoing as search teams work through the hazardous high-alpine terrain surrounding the lake. The multi-agency response includes local volunteer firefighters, Carabineros police supported by an air-police helicopter unit, medical teams, SENAPRED regional personnel, and coordinators from the Integrated Cristo Redentor System as crews continue searching the slide path.

This is a developing story and will be updated as additional details emerge. 



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