Published: February 27,2017
Rainstorms
and landslides triggered by rainfall in Santiago, Chile, left at least
three people dead and contaminated a major river, forcing officials to
cut off drinking water for 4 million people.
According to ONEMI, the national emergency office, at least 19 people remain missing in the capital city, which has a population of 6.5 million.
Office director Ricardo Toro told CTV News that a youth died in a car that was swept away by floodwaters in central Chile and two bodies were recovered from a river near Santiago.
Mudslides and rubble triggered by the rain surged into the Maipo River, which supplies water to most of the homes in the capital city, reports AFP.
"We
are talking about 1.45 million homes that are going to be affected by
the cutting off of the water supply, which will be total or partial in
30 districts" regional governor Claudio Orrego said in a statement
obtained by AFP.
On Monday, Aguas Anginas, the company responsible for providing the capital with drinking water, released a statement saying it has managed to partially resume production of drinking water
and roughly 50 percent of homes in Santiago have potable water. The
main plant, Plant Las Viscachas, has resumed its operation.
In
addition to the main plant, alternative supply points set up by the
company and officials will be maintained until service is fully
restored, according to ONEMI.
When residents were
told about the lack of drinking water, many went out with buckets and
pans to collect water from emergency taps set up by authorities and
others rushed to supermarkets to purchase bottled water, AFP also
reports. Restaurants and businesses without drinking water have been
ordered to stay closed. The start of lessons for the new school term was
also postponed.
In Cordillera province, bridges
were swept away and 1,200 people were cut off, the area's governor
Vanessa Marimon told AFP. Overall, 3,300 people were cut off by floods.
Sunday,
three helicopters established an air bridge in San José de Maipo in
order to send 1,065 liters of water, 117 food rations and 165 toilet
kits, according to ONEMI.
Though February is part
of the dry season in Santiago, a weak upper-level area of low pressure
with sufficient moisture provided the spark for the heavy rain event
near Santiago, according to weather.com senior meteorologist Jon Erdman.
Normally, Santiago averages a scant .03 inch of rain for the month.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report
on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science
to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of
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