"Intense rainfall in the Atacama Region of Chile caused flooding and strong water flows along Route C-17 as it crosses the Atacama Desert, forcing Carabineros to close the route as a preventive measure to avoid accidents. Footage filmed on Tuesday shows water currents surging across the road linking Carrera Pinto with Inca de Oro, with vehicles navigating the inundated roadway before Chilean Carabineros ordered a preventive closure. The regional director of the National Disaster Prevention and Response Service, Roberto Munoz, reported that rainfall in mountainous areas caused water accumulation in some ravines, generating flows of water and mud along sections of Route C-17. This situation led Carabineros to suspend north-to-south traffic at the exit of Inca de Oro as a safety measure, which will remain in place until conditions improve. Authorities reiterated the call to follow police instructions and avoid unnecessary travel while the restriction remains in force, as water runoff and sediment across the roadway pose a risk to drivers due to reduced traction and possible ground instability. One of the most affected communes is Diego de Almagro, where around 100 families in the Inca de Oro sector were affected by flooding. Of these, about 40 people had to be sheltered in facilities provided by the local fire brigades. The Atacama Desert, considered the driest on the planet outside the polar regions, includes areas where decades can pass without measurable rainfall, making heavy rains and flooding extraordinary phenomena. During such episodes, the extremely dry and compact soil is unable to absorb water, leading to surface runoff, sudden flows and flooding that affect roads, infrastructure and communities, abruptly altering an ecosystem historically adapted to an almost complete absence of moisture. "