Floods hit Chilean capital, cut water to millions

Santiago: Heavy rains have caused severe flooding and cut water service to 4.5 million people around Chile's capital, Santiago, officials said.

The Rio Mapocho flooded several districts of the city and landslides killed at least one person yesterday. Seven others were missing, and officials said some 300 people had been evacuated. Power was cut to more than 80,000 people in Santiago and the provinces of Valparaiso and O'Higgins.

The huge El Teniente operation of the state-run Codelco mining company was forced to close. Officials said schools would be shuttered as well.

City official Claudio Orrego said that while the Mapocho didn't overflow its banks, a problem with a tunnel led water to spill into the city.
Orrego said water service was cut to at least 4.5 million people due to contamination caused by the flooding. Authorities urged residents to limit water use until the problem is past.