On Thursday, October 15, 2026, a crowd participating in street protests and barricades in the Bajos de Mena sector of Puente Alto entered the Cesfam Raúl Silva Henríquez health center and caused extensive damage using fire extinguishers. Municipal authorities and local news outlets reported that the nighttime violence followed a daytime notification from the Serviu and the Presidential Delegation regarding an upcoming eviction at the El Volcán 2 (or Villa El Volcán 1) housing settlement, tied to an urban regeneration and social housing project. Workers and patients hid inside the facility during the raid, which forced a total suspension of public health services on Friday, October 16.
Municipal Officials Blame State Security Failures
Puente Alto Matías Toledo harshly criticized the government and the Presidential Delegation for failing to prevent the attack despite receiving repeated warnings throughout the day. According to statements posted on Instagram and cited by Cooperativa, Teletrece, and ADN Radio, municipal teams sent emails and alerted police about escalating risks near the medical clinic. Toledo stated that the initial lack of police presence stemmed from low staffing levels in Bajos de Mena, leaving only a single vehicle to cover the area. Esto se podría haber evitado,
Toledo explained, adding that workers had to hide in fear while attending patients. Police Control of Public Order personnel eventually arrived to disperse the individuals after the destruction had already taken place, and the PDI took charge of the ongoing investigation.
Did You Know? The targeted health facility, Cesfam Cardenal Raúl Silva Henríquez, serves a dense peripheral population in Bajos de Mena where local officials have long pointed to staffing constraints and infrastructure vulnerabilities during civil unrest.
Property Damage Estimates and Disrupted Patient Care
Reports regarding the total financial cost of the vandalism vary across media outlets covering the incident. The primary municipal briefing valued the destruction at $11 million, while coverage from Cooperativa and Teletrece estimated the damage at approximately 30 million pesos. The violent intrusion smashed windows, damaged doors and computers, wrecked waiting rooms, and ruined ventilation units. Because computers and medical equipment were rendered inoperable, local patients arriving for appointments, medication pickups, or examinations were turned away. Domingo, a local patient interviewed by Cooperativa, noted that he had waited over a year for a medical consultation before encountering the shutdown.
Patient Derivations and Legal Actions Ahead
Following the suspension of operations at the Raúl Silva Henríquez clinic, affected users have been redirected to the nearby Cesfam Karol Wojtyla (also referred to in reports as Cesfam Karol Urzúa) for their urgent medical needs and rescheduled appointments. Mayor Toledo announced that the municipality will file a formal legal complaint against the individuals responsible for the vandalism. Investigators from the Policía de Investigaciones (PDI) continue gathering evidence and reviewing security camera footage to identify those who forced their way into the establishment.
Protests precede attack on health center
When did the attack on the Cesfam Raúl Silva Henríquez take place?
The violent incident occurred during the night of Thursday, October 15, 2026, following a day of protests and barricades in the Bajos de Mena sector of Puente Alto.
What prompted the protests that led to the health center’s destruction?
The demonstrations arose after the Servicio de Vivienda y Urbanización (Serviu) and the Presidential Delegation notified residents of an impending eviction at the El Volcán 2 (Villa El Volcán 1) housing settlement as part of a ministry project for social housing.
Where are patients being redirected while the clinic remains closed?
Because the facility suffered extensive damage to its computers, windows, and waiting rooms, patient care was suspended on Friday, October 16, and individuals are being derived to the Cesfam Karol Wojtyla.
Worth a look