Chile — What was a great season at Nevados de Chillán turned into a tragic one in the matter of hours yesterday.
Yesterday, a fire started at the Hotel Alto Nevados in Nevados de Chillán. The cause of the fire is unknown, but investigators are looking into it. Fortunately, all guests and employees got out safely.
As the day became night, the fire then spread to nearby buildings, including the Plaza Otto ski facilities. Other nearby facilities were swept into the fire. It’s unclear how extensive the damage is in the area so far, although it’s clear the hotel will need to be demolished.
According to Meganoticias, the following parties responded to the scene:
- Carabineros’ Labocar (Forensic Laboratory)
- OS9 (Special Investigations Unit)
- PDI (Chilean Investigative Police)
In response to the situation, the ski resort is not operating today. They plan to reopen their slopes tomorrow with a phased reopening.
Long-Term Implications
While it doesn’t get the notoriety that ski resorts like Portillo and Valle Nevado do, Nevados de Chillán could be the most underrated ski resort on the continent. In fact, it actually has the highest rating (albeit narrowly) out of any ski resort in South America on PeakRankings . While its lodging variety has been a strength, it still has varied terrain, a cool volcanic backdrop, and hot springs.
A key thing to note: many facilities remain undamaged after the fire. Nevados de Chillán is home to several base areas, each with its own hotels. Undamaged hotels include Apart Hotel, Hotel Nevados, and Hotel Termas de Chillán.
While the ski resort will certainly be hurt by not having one hotel operational for (likely) years, it’ll still have facilities to welcome guests for this and upcoming winters.
Image/Video Credits: Meganoticias, Nevados de Chillán
