Chilean President Sebastian Pinera announced a state of emergency on Tuesday amid flooding in five communes in the northern Atacama region, TASS reported.

Torrential rains, which led to river flooding and landslides, began in the region in mid-January.

One person has been died, others still missing, he said on the 24 Oras TV channel.

About 100 houses were damaged or destroyed by the elements. Evacuation was carried out in some settlements.