Résumé
In March 2015, an unprecedented rainfall event occurred in the hyper-arid AtacamaDesert of Northern Chile, known as the driest place on Earth. Characterized byscarce vegetation and limited infiltration capacity, the region was hardly preparedfor such heavy precipitation. The exceptional magnitude of the rainfall, coupled withhuman-induced geomorphological alterations in both the river channel and thecoastline (filled with mine tailings over decades), caused catastrophic damage andloss of life.