The Ministry of Education announced on March 15 that the evacuation and assistance operation for teachers at rural schools in Normenta and San Bernardo was successfully completed after severe weather affected the area.
The situation prompted an interagency response, with continuous communication maintained between teachers, school leaders, supervisors, and later with students’ families to ensure support and keep the educational community informed. The operation began on Friday, March 13, involving teams from the Ministries of Education, Security, Health, and Human Development. Psychological support professionals also participated throughout the process.
Due to challenging weather and geographic conditions, several rescue attempts were initially suspended for safety reasons. The coordinated efforts of all involved teams eventually enabled the evacuations to proceed. The provincial government declared a state of emergency to speed up intervention and resource mobilization.
In San Bernardo, adverse weather made access difficult, leading to the evacuation of all teachers from various educational levels by land once it was safe. In Normenta, road conditions prevented ground rescue operations. As a result, an aerial evacuation was organized. After three helicopter attempts, teachers from Rural Secondary School No. 1 were evacuated.
Minister of Education Daniela Teseira highlighted the commitment shown by the principal of Normenta Primary School for staying with teachers and students during this period. She also arranged for a helicopter delivery of food supplies to support both the institution and its community during these challenging circumstances.
School activities at initial and primary levels in Normenta continue as normal since necessary conditions have been ensured for their operation. The Ministry said this situation underscores “the importance of coordinated state action and territorial presence as fundamental to ensuring care and support for the entire educational community.”
