Chile's National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (Senapred) declared a red alert for landslides and debris flows on the afternoon of Monday, October 26, 2026 in 10 foothill municipalities of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, including San José de Maipo, Lo Barnechea and Pirque, the gateways to the Cajón del Maipo and the Farellones ski resorts. That same Monday, around 17:30, a tornado rated EF-2 damaged at least 70 homes in Requínoa, in the O'Higgins Region, according to La Tercera.
The alert came during an intense frontal system, with heavy rain in a short time, thunderstorms and hail in several parts of the capital, according to BioBioChile and Emol. Senapred's national director, Alicia Cebrián, urged people to "avoid crossing places where water is accumulating, because it is a risk".
The 10 municipalities under red alert in the Santiago Metropolitan Region
| Municipality | Nearby tourist destination or road |
|---|---|
| San José de Maipo | Cajón del Maipo, Route G-25, El Yeso reservoir, Baños Morales |
| Lo Barnechea | Road to Farellones (G-21): Farellones, El Colorado, La Parva and Valle Nevado |
| Pirque | Pirque wineries, El Toyo road to San José de Maipo |
| Puente Alto | Access to the Cajón del Maipo via Camino al Volcán |
| La Florida | Quebrada de Macul |
| Peñalolén | Nido de Águilas ravine and foothill trails |
| Las Condes | Quebrada Honda and San Carlos de Apoquindo |
| La Reina | Eastern foothills |
| Vitacura | Eastern Santiago |
| Colina | Northern foothills |
Source: Senapred, declaration of October 26, 2026, according to Emol and BioBioChile. The destinations column is a reference by Viajando Chile for travelers. Senapred also sent SAE emergency alerts to mobile phones in Las Condes and Lo Barnechea because ravines were becoming active.
Roads affected by the red alert: Farellones and Cajón del Maipo
The regional governor, Claudio Orrego, confirmed on Monday rockfalls at two points on the road to Farellones (G-21) and on Route G-25, which leads to San José de Maipo, and sent machinery to clear them, according to La Tercera. At kilometer 8 of the road to Farellones, a debris flow forced traffic restrictions and some 150 people, including mine workers and tourists, were cut off, according to Pauta. In Pirque, a rockfall cut the El Toyo road, which connects to San José de Maipo, according to local media.
| Road | What happened on Monday 26 | Destinations that depend on it |
|---|---|---|
| G-21, road to Farellones | Rockfalls at two points and a debris flow at km 8; traffic restricted | Farellones, El Colorado, La Parva, Valle Nevado |
| G-25, Camino al Volcán | Rockfalls; machinery clearing the road | San José de Maipo, San Alfonso, El Yeso, Baños Morales |
| El Toyo road (Pirque) | A rockfall cut the link with San José de Maipo | Pirque and the south bank of the Maipo |
Sources: La Tercera, Pauta and Portal Pirque (October 26 and 27, 2026). The status of each road can change during the day: before heading up, check with the Ministry of Public Works road authority (Vialidad), the Carabineros police and the municipalities' accounts.
This matters for skiers: Valle Nevado announced open slopes until November 8, as we reported in Valle Nevado extends its season, and La Parva opens on some weekends, according to our story. With the G-21 affected, check with each resort before setting out. In the Cajón del Maipo, access to the El Yeso reservoir had already been closed during other storms in October.
Do you have lodging or a tour in the Cajón del Maipo or Farellones? Reach the travelers planning their getaway from Santiago.
See advertising optionsEF-2 tornado in Requínoa, O'Higgins Region
Around 17:30 on Monday, a tornado with winds of more than 180 km/h swept through Requínoa. It left at least 70 homes damaged, mostly with roofs blown off, damaged the gym of the Colegio Tricahue school, affected some 12 power poles and left about 4,000 customers without electricity, according to La Tercera. One person suffered a minor injury. Senapred declared a red alert for the municipality. It was preliminarily rated EF-2 on the Enhanced Fujita scale.
Requínoa lies in the Cachapoal valley, a wine area that is part of the Central Valley wine routes described in our road trip through the Central Valley and its wineries. There is no official information about closures on Route 5 South because of the tornado.
What to do if you are traveling in the Santiago Metropolitan Region during the red alert
- Postpone trips up into the mountains while the red alert lasts, especially to the Cajón del Maipo and Farellones.
- Do not cross watercourses or active ravines: this is Senapred's advice. A dry ravine can fill with mud within minutes.
- Check road conditions with Vialidad, the Carabineros and the municipalities of San José de Maipo, Lo Barnechea and Pirque.
- Follow official alerts: the SAE system sends messages to phones in the affected area, including tourists' phones with a Chilean SIM or on roaming.
- If you are already in the mountains, follow the instructions of your lodging or ski resort and do not try to drive down a blocked road.
- More safety tips in our guide to safety for tourists in Chile.
Frequently asked questions
Which municipalities are under red alert in the Santiago Metropolitan Region?
San José de Maipo, Puente Alto, Pirque, La Florida, Peñalolén, La Reina, Las Condes, Lo Barnechea, Vitacura and Colina, due to landslide risk, according to Senapred (October 26, 2026).
Is the road to Farellones open?
On Monday the 26th there were rockfalls at two points and a debris flow at kilometer 8, with traffic restricted. Check the latest status with Vialidad and the Municipality of Lo Barnechea before heading up.
Can you visit the Cajón del Maipo during a red alert?
It is not advisable. San José de Maipo is among the municipalities under red alert and Route G-25 had rockfalls. The prudent course is to wait until Senapred lifts the alert.
