Torrential rain and fierce winds have lashed central and southern Chile, resulting in at least three fatalities and displacing hundreds of residents.

Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast announced on Friday that he is traveling to the Biobio region, one of the most severely impacted areas, to assess the damage and the ongoing emergency response.

The country's disaster relief agency, SENAPRED, reported that 466 people are currently in shelters. An additional 158 residents have been cut off by rising water levels, primarily in the Coquimbo region. SENAPRED's head, Alicia Cebrian, stated that seven individuals have sustained injuries.

Further heavy rainfall is anticipated for Friday across the nation's central zone. The floods have significantly disrupted daily life, leading to the suspension of classes in some schools and the halting of surface operations at Codelco's Andina mine due to the severe weather.

Among the victims were a laborer who died while clearing a road in Negrete, an individual who fell from a roof while cleaning in Temuco, and a third person who suffered a fatal electric shock in the capital, Santiago. Approximately 257,000 people, mostly in the south, are still without power.

President Kast, who was inaugurated in March and campaigned on a strong anti-crime platform, has pledged institutional support for those affected by the flooding. This disaster comes less than six months into his term.

Evacuation orders were issued by SENAPRED for the Campamento Ribera del Rio area near Talagante due to concerns over rising river levels. The state-owned mining giant Codelco temporarily ceased surface operations at its Andina mine as a precautionary measure against the storm's impact.

The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, with authorities working to provide aid and restore essential services to the affected populations. The ongoing weather patterns suggest that challenges may persist in the coming days.