Key facts
- The Cristo Redentor tunnel, a key trade link between Argentina and Chile, reopened on August 18, 2026.
- The pass was closed for a record 35 days due to heavy snowfall and strong winds.
- Over 2,000 trucks were stranded, leading to estimated losses of $200 million.
- The closure was attributed to an intense El Niño phenomenon.
- Reopening is gradual, initially for freight trucks only, with buses and private cars not yet permitted.
The main land crossing between Argentina and Chile, the Cristo Redentor tunnel, has reopened after a record 35-day closure due to heavy snowfall and strong winds associated with an intense El Niño phenomenon. The closure, which began on July 14, 2026, left hundreds of trucks stranded, with estimates of over 2,000 vehicles waiting on the Argentine side alone. Trade groups estimate the economic losses to be around $200 million, with daily costs for stranded trucks ranging from $300 to $600. The reopening on August 18, 2026, is initially for freight trucks only, operating under a winter timetable. Climate experts have cautioned that the El Niño phenomenon is expected to remain intense through early 2027, potentially leading to increased snowfall in the Andes and floods in other parts of South America. The closure surpassed the previous record of 26 days set in 2023, and snow depth in some areas reached over six meters.