Conaf's regional director, Mauricio Ruiz, confirmed no rangers were present in the Los Perros sector of Torres del Paine on November 17, when five foreign tourists died due to bad weather. Staff were absent to vote in the previous day's elections. Meanwhile, the Air Force recovered the bodies and Carabineros evacuated four injured survivors.
Five foreign tourists—two Mexicans, two Germans, and one British—died on Monday, November 17, in the “O” circuit of Torres del Paine National Park in the Magallanes Region, while attempting to cross John Gardner Pass from Los Perros camp amid adverse weather conditions. Conaf's regional director, Mauricio Ruiz, confirmed Wednesday to 24 Horas that no Conaf personnel were present that day. “On the night of the 16th, for the 17th, we indeed did not have staff there that day,” Ruiz explained, noting that the two rangers from Los Perros camp went down to Laguna Amarga gates to vote on Sunday the 16th. The park has 15 sectors and 51 staff working that day, but the incident area is the most complex, requiring a 15-to-18-kilometer walk to return, complicated by the shift change.
Ruiz stressed that the park “never closes” and absences for voting are institutional, with strategic alliances with concession companies like the one operating the Los Perros camp, responsible for visitor orientations. Regarding weather alerts, common in Magallanes, he said routine recommendations are given, and in this case, the company provided them the previous night. Facing a Fiscalía investigation into potential liabilities, Ruiz noted he has not yet been contacted and any administrative action depends on higher authority.
The same day, the Chilean Air Force, using a Bell-412 helicopter from Group No. 6, recovered the bodies at 11:00 from Chabunco Air Base in Punta Arenas, with a stop in Puerto Natales, authorized by the Fiscalía for legal processes and repatriation. Meanwhile, Carabineros evacuated four survivors—a U.S. citizen, a Chilean, an Australian, and one with nationality pending—from Dickson camp, three injured, to Augusto Essmann Hospital in Puerto Natales for medical and psychological care. Survivors reported via Facebook being traumatized, low on supplies, and accused Vértice and Conaf of obstructing evacuation with 4x4 vehicles. The operation continues to rescue more survivors and bodies, aided by improved weather.
For the December 14 runoff election, Ruiz committed to bolstering safeguards: “This will not happen again (...) We will have all protections. And we are taking administrative measures for circuit closures, because if we cannot ensure safeguarding, we will have to close some sectors.”
