Rare snowfall hits Chile's capital of Santiago

Record cold temperatures and an unusual snowfall hit Chile's capital of Santiago.

A boy winds up with a snowball in hand in a park in Santiago, Chile. Source: AAP

The Chilean capital was affected this Saturday by the biggest snowfall of the last decade.

A worker died trying to clear ice, while two people were injured when they were electrocuted by a fallen power line, city officials told local media.

Some people however were delighted by the weather, and many headed outdoors to hurl snowballs and build snowmen.

The Office of National Emergency (ONEMI) said in the morning that some 250,000 customers were left without power in Santiago following the heaviest snowstorm since 2007.

The Chilean capital was affected this Saturday by the biggest snowfall of the last decade, leaving more than 300,000 homes without electricity Source: EFE

The blackouts were mainly caused by trees and branches falling on power lines, officials said.

The city of seven million has been enduring in the past days a cold snap, with temperatures plunging below the freezing point.

Several football games, including some Copa Chile tournament games, were postponed until further notice, the Professional Football association said on their social media accounts.

The Chilean national weather service said that lighter amounts of snow and wet snow could still fall on the city.