Disaster: Chile
Key Facts
—Who. Four people died and four were injured at the latest official count, with eight people involved, all Chilean mountain visitors.
—What. An avalanche struck the Laguna del Inca sector near the Portillo ski centre, and authorities did not rule out further people being affected.
—Where. Laguna del Inca, municipality of Los Andes, Valparaíso Region, in the Chilean Andes near the border with Argentina.
—When. Saturday, 17 October 2026, at about 14:45 local time (17:45 GMT).
—Update. As of 17 October 2026, 20:40 GMT.
A Portillo avalanche killed four people and injured four more on Saturday, 17 October 2026, according to Chile’s disaster agency Senapred. The slide hit the Laguna del Inca sector in the Andes near the Portillo ski centre, a well-known ski resort in the Chilean Andes.
What We Know
The avalanche struck at about 14:45 local time (17:45 GMT) in the Laguna del Inca sector, in the municipality of Los Andes, Valparaíso Region. The area lies high in the Andes, close to the border with Argentina.
At 16:48 local time (19:48 GMT), Senapred raised its count to four dead and four injured. Senapred regional director Christian Cardemil said eight people were involved.
The number of victims rose during the afternoon. Early reports, including El Mostrador, spoke of two dead and one missing person, and a Bomberos commander in Los Andes mentioned three dead, according to Meganoticias.
Regional presidential delegate Manuel Millones said all those affected were Chileans. He described them as tourists passing through, not guests of the Portillo hotel.
Millones added that, according to the hotel owner’s account, visitors had been warned not to enter the sector. La Tercera reported that no specific avalanche alert had been issued, but a regional weather alert was in force.
The Rescue Response
Firefighters (Bomberos), Carabineros, the police air brigade, the SAMU emergency medical service and Senapred took part in the response. The Sistema Integrado Cristo Redentor was also involved, according to La Tercera.
La Tercera reported that helicopters brought the injured to the stadium in Los Andes. From there they were taken to hospitals in Los Andes and San Felipe.
Authorities did not rule out further people being affected in the area, according to Emol and La Tercera. The count of four dead dates from 16:48 local time on 17 October.
What Is Not Known
The names and ages of the victims have not been released. We are not naming anyone until the authorities or the families do so.
The exact cause and trigger of the avalanche are not known. No investigation had been reported as opened at the time of writing.
It is not confirmed whether anyone else is missing in the area. It is also unclear how many of the eight people were climbing or walking together.
Counts changed several times during the afternoon, so the figures may change again. We use the latest Senapred count of four dead and four injured, with eight people involved.
What It Means for Travelers and US Readers
Portillo is a well-known ski resort in the Chilean Andes, so the news may concern US travellers planning mountain trips in Chile. Mountain slopes can remain dangerous in spring, and La Tercera noted heavy snow accumulation in the cordillera as a risk factor.
Travellers in the Chilean Andes should follow the warnings of local authorities and hotel operators. In this case, the hotel owner says visitors had been told to stay out of the sector.
A regional weather alert was in force even though no specific avalanche alert existed. Visitors planning mountain trips can check official Senapred notices and ask local operators before leaving the road.
Millones said all those involved were Chilean, and no foreign nationals have been reported among them. Readers with travel plans in the area should watch for official updates.
Related Rio Times coverage of avalanches in Chile includes Chile Mine Avalanche Sparks Negligence Probe and Chile’s El Teniente Avalanche Kills 2 Mine Workers. Our Chile section carries further developments.
What happens next depends on Senapred and the regional authorities, who are still working at the site. This report reflects what the available reports confirmed at 20:40 GMT on 17 October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened near Portillo, Chile?
An avalanche struck the Laguna del Inca sector near the Portillo ski centre on Saturday, 17 October 2026, at about 14:45 local time. Senapred reported four dead and four injured, with eight people involved.
How many people died in the Chile avalanche?
At the latest official count from Senapred, four people died and four were injured. Earlier reports gave lower numbers, which rose during the afternoon.
Was this a Portillo ski accident involving hotel guests?
Regional delegate Manuel Millones said all those affected were Chileans, tourists passing through the area. They were not guests of the Portillo hotel, whose owner says visitors had been warned not to enter the sector.
Where did the Laguna del Inca avalanche happen?
It happened in the Laguna del Inca sector, in the municipality of Los Andes, Valparaíso Region. The area is in the Andes near Portillo and close to the border with Argentina.