The mudslide tore through the small town of Villa Santa Lucia, near Chaiten in coastal Patagonia, Chile, on Saturday, December 16, after a night of torrential downpours.

The video that follows, taken from a helicopter by Chilean police, shows a large part of Villa Santa Lucia buried under mud and debris, as the landslide plowed its way down a flooded river valley. More than 11.4 cm of rain fell in 24 hours, the country's Interior Ministry said.

Five people have died in the mudslide, according to authorities, while rescue workers continue to search through the debris for at least 15 people. The mudslide destroyed a school, a voting center and several homes and roadways. President Michelle Bachelet declared the area a disaster zone.

Source: Reuters

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Landslides, Reconnaissance of Natural Disasters

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Environmetal Standards

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