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11,000 affected in storm in S.
Chile
Torrential rains have caused
five deaths and affected more
than 11,000 people in a region
spanning between Valparaiso and
Bio Bio, southern Chile, since
Sunday, the Chilean government
said Wednesday.
The worst affected area is the
8th Region -- Bio Bio, some 500
km south of the capital
Santiago.
In Concepcion, capital of the
8th Region, the precipitation
reached 162.4 mm, the highest in
the last 30 years, and the
weather service forecast even
stronger rains within 24 hours.
The rains led to landslides in
the La Polvora hill in
Concepcion, destroying some
houses and killing five people.
Also, the Concepcion-Tome road
was blocked and the road between
Curico and the coastal areas was
affected due to the collapse of
the Peralillo bridge.
In Santiago, the heavy rains led
to traffic jams.
President Ricardo Lagos declared
a state of emergency on Tuesday
for the country's south after
inspecting the worst-hit
Concepcion. On the same day, the
Chilean government ordered all
schools to close in the
Metropolitan Region due to the
rains.
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