Chile
Chile's President Michelle Bachelet (C) walks out from a house during her visit to Tocopilla town after a mud landslide, in northern Chile, August 10, 2015, in this handout courtesy of the Chilean Presidency. Heavy rain and winds hit the southern cone of South America over the weekend, battering the Chilean coastline and leading to the precautionary suspension of work at some mines in the top copper exporter. REUTERS/Ximena Navarro/Chilean Presidency/Handout via Reuters

Deadly storms in Chile have claimed a sixth victim and have led to evacuations in neighbouring Argentina, officials announced on 10 August.

Three people died in a landslide in the port town of Tocopilla in the north, the national emergency office said. President Michelle Bachelet visited Tocopilla, as well as Antofagasta, on 10 August, the Associated Press reported.

The Chilean Navy announced on 9 August that marines had been deployed to Tocopilla to provide aid. Authorities in Tocopilla and Antofagasta declared a state of emergency due to the massive storms.

Chilean footballer and Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez sent words of encouragement to his hometown of Tocopilla through Instagram and Twitter. "I want to thank President Michelle Bachelet and everyone in her team for visiting Tocopilla and giving us a hand. Thank you so much. Strength to Tocopilla and the north of Chile."

Another three people died on Saturday, according to the AP. In Valparaiso, which along with Viña del Mar experienced 30-foot waves, a man drowned at sea. Another man was crushed by a tree in the O'Higgins region, while a third man died when his roof collapsed in the city of La Serena.

According to 24Horas Chile, Health Minister Carmen Castillo announced a new vaccination campaign in the affected regions. Those in the region of Antofagasta will be vaccinated against influenza. Meanwhile, volunteers will receive tetanus shots and children under the age of 15 who are exposed to unsanitary conditions will receive a vaccine against hepatitis A.

The storm hit area is slowly recovering. After suspending operations at some of its mines, Codelco, the biggest copper-mining company in the world, resumed operations on 10 August. The weather-related shutdown added to interruptions due to a two-week protest by contract workers.

"The corporation will keep its preventive protocols active to ensure operational continuity and the safety of workers and installations," the state-owned company said in a statement.

According to Bloomberg, Soc Quimica & Minera de Chile SA announced it restarted fertilizer operations in the Atacama Desert but kept its port closed.

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