Heavy rainfalls and intense cold have hit the Metropolitan regions of Santiago, Valparaiso, O’Higgins, Ñuble, Maule and Biobio, and forecasts indicate that the situation will continue until Thursday.

In such context, the Undersecretary of Social Services informed that the protection program for the homeless will be extended in this area with the purpose of saving their lives.

Undersecretary Francisca Gallegos pointed out that the combination of rain, snow and cold could be lethal for those who spend the night on the streets, and called on the population to report cases by making phone calls to the numbers provided for this goal, or on the website www.nochedigna.cl.

In shelters, they will have access to a bed, warm clothes, hygiene and food services and, when the situation warrants it, they will be transferred to a hospital.

On Wednesday night and early Thursday morning, temperatures are expected to drop to zero degrees Celsius or below, with heavy rainfalls and occasional snowfall in areas near the highlands.

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