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Chile water shortage hits Santiago from Maipo River Chile water shortage hits Santiago from Maipo river
(about 9 hours later)
Millions in Chile's capital, Santiago, have been left with no drinking water after a river was contaminated, officials say. The drinking water in Chile's capital, Santiago, is being restored after contamination left millions without supplies for a day, officials say.
They said landslides in the Andes mountains, east of the capital, polluted the Maipo river and forced the closure of water processing plants. The water company says supplies should be back to normal by Wednesday morning.
More than two million people in 21 districts have been affected, with some businesses ordered close for the day. The problem was reportedly caused by flash floods in the Andes, which muddied the river Maipo and forced the closure of water processing plants.
Services are expected to be restored at midnight local time (03:00 GMT). More than two million people have been affected, with some businesses ordered to close for the day.
The floods sent mud flowing, forcing the closure of at least three water plants. The water processing plants have now been fixed, the Aguas Andinas company said.
As a result, some 600,000 families in Santiago - around a third of the city's population - have been left without water. Supplies should restored in the city of nearly five million people by 06:00 local time (noon GMT).
"We had an emergency event owing to circumstances beyond our control that forced us to cut water to 15 neighbourhoods," said Cristian Esquivel, spokesman of water utility company Aguas Andinas. "We had an emergency event owing to circumstances beyond our control that forced us to cut water to 15 neighbourhoods," said Cristian Esquivel, spokesman for Aguas Andinas.
Officials have been distributing emergency supplies from tankers, with people rushing out to buy bottled water, says the BBC's Gideon Long in Santiago.Officials have been distributing emergency supplies from tankers, with people rushing out to buy bottled water, says the BBC's Gideon Long in Santiago.
The problem could hardly have come at a worse time, as this is the middle of the Chilean summer, when temperatures regularly top 30C (86F) , our correspondent adds. The problem could hardly have come at a worse time, as this is the middle of the Chilean summer, when temperatures regularly top 30C (86F), our correspondent adds.
Most offices, businesses like bars and restaurants, and playgrounds were closed because of the water shortage, reports say.Most offices, businesses like bars and restaurants, and playgrounds were closed because of the water shortage, reports say.
Many people have complained that they were not given adequate warning.Many people have complained that they were not given adequate warning.
About five million people live in the capital.