Heavy rainfall has caused floods and landslides in northern and central Chile. Five people have been reported killed, and over a thousand were evacuated to safer ground.

It is the heaviest rainfall that the region has experienced in several years.

Some areas received almost double the normal rainfall that they normally do at this time of year. While this has caused disruption and damage to the region, it has also had benefit for the more arid regions such as Atacama which have been suffering from drought.

Despite this relief for some, the floods and landslides have disrupted roads, and damaged hundreds of houses. Thousands of people were also left without power due to the damaging impact of the storms.

Relief operations are underway and efforts are being made to reach small communities which were left isolated by the disaster.