Chile: 2 million without running water in Santiago
Two people walk next to ice blocks in the lake Cachet II in Aysen, Chilean Patagonia, 1700 Kms south of Santiago on April 6, 2012. Shortly before midnight of March 31, 2012 the lake with his 200 million liters of water began empty for second time this year. The lake disappeared completely due to rising temperatures driven by climate change, according to experts.
More than 2 million in Santiago, Chile are without running water because of a contaminated river.
Heavy rain and warm weather have melted the snowy peaks of the Andes, causing landslides and river floods, according to the Associated Press. Water company Aguas Andinas said mud, rocks and trees forced the temporary closure of three purification plants.
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Agence France-Presse reported that one of the landslides into the Maipo River is what contaminated the city's drinking water, putting a stop to its processing plants. Water has been shut down for more than 593,000 metropolitan homes and led to the closure of restaurants, offices and playgrounds in the area beginning early Tuesday.
"We had an emergency event owing to circumstances beyond our control that forced us to cut water to 15 neighborhoods," said Cristian Esquivel, spokesman for Aguas Andinas.
According to BBC News, services are expected to be restored at midnight, local time.