Local authorities reported on Monday that the Bío Bío Region has seen an 11% decrease in its homicide rate so far in 2026.
The figures, presented during a Police Committee meeting, show a total of 17 murders in the region. During the same period last year, 19 such incidents were recorded.
Presidential Delegate Julio Anativia described the trend as positive, noting that authorities are analyzing the data in alignment with national government policies.
Drop in serious crime rates
In addition to homicides, serious crime rates dropped by 8.5% compared to 2025. However, arrests for various offenses saw a 1.5% increase.
Renzo Miccono, the regional commander of the Carabineros in Bío Bío, warned that homicides remain a top priority for the force. The officer indicated that most recorded cases are linked to specific crimes.
“The cases we are seeing have always been linked to specific crimes or motives, whether related to drugs or rival gangs,” Miccono explained.
The highest incidence of homicide is concentrated in the municipalities of Concepción, Los Ángeles, San Pedro de la Paz, Coronel, and Tomé.
During this period, the region has been the site of several high-profile incidents, including the femicide of preschool teacher Magdalena Burgos in Florida and the parricide of a man in Tomé at the hands of his 15-year-old son.
