On 18 March 2025, in the rural area of Futrono commune (Los Rios), residents and Mapuche organization leaders occupied road T-559 between Llifen and Puerto Maihue near Blanco bridge with signs and banners to demand road improvements after around 40 accidents had occurred in prior months. Protesters blamed the accidents on the curvature of the road ahead of the bridge and specifically demanded solutions from the director of the region's highway administration.

Supply-chain Risk Briefing

1) Summary On March 18, 2025, residents and Mapuche organizations in the Futrono area of Los Ríos Province, Chile, conducted a peaceful protest occupying the T-559 road, demanding road improvements. The protest aims to resolve road infrastructure issues near Blanco Bridge, where approximately 40 traffic accidents have occurred in recent months, with a low-level risk rating.

2) Supply-chain impact

• Regional logistics transport constraints: T-559 road serves as a major rural transport route connecting Ripen and Puerto Mayu, with temporary traffic blockades occurring due to the occupation protest
• Agricultural product transport delay risks: Los Ríos Province is a major agricultural region of Chile, with potential disruptions to transportation of dairy products, timber, grains, and other products
• Timber industry impact: The region is one of Chile's timber industry centers, with short-term impacts expected on raw wood and processed lumber transport routes
• Mapuche protest spillover potential: Considering past cases where Mapuche-related protests spread to neighboring areas, there is potential for additional road occupations

3) Watch points

• Road authority response: Regional highway authority's announcement and implementation schedule for road improvement plans will be a key variable determining whether additional protests occur
• Regional spillover: Need to monitor potential similar safety improvement demand protests on other rural roads within Los Ríos Province