TL;DR
A large avalanche struck near Laguna del Inca adjacent to Ski Portillo on Saturday afternoon, killing four people and injuring four others. The group were day visitors mountaineering in the backcountry after reportedly being warned about elevated avalanche risk by resort staff.
Four people died in an avalanche near Ski Portillo on Saturday, with four more injured
A large avalanche struck the alpine basin surrounding Laguna del Inca near Ski Portillo in Chile's Valparaíso Region on Saturday afternoon, triggering a high-altitude search and rescue operation. Chile's National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (SENAPRED) confirmed four fatalities, though authorities have indicated additional people may be missing.
Emergency crews responded around 2:45 p.m. local time following the slab avalanche. SENAPRED initially reported two deaths, updating the count to four by 4:50 p.m. according to Chilean news outlet Emol.
Who was involved
Valparaíso Regional Presidential Delegate Manuel Millones told Chilean television network T13 that the group were Chilean day visitors mountaineering near a series of peaks called Tres Hermanos in the Laguna del Inca zone. They were not guests staying at the resort.
The exact number of people involved remains unclear, with different Chilean news outlets reporting varying figures. SAMU emergency medical personnel evacuated four injured survivors to a hospital in Los Andes.
