Millions of people are without drinking water after rainstorms and landslides contaminated a major river in Chile.

Officials say the water supply from the Maipo river will remain cut off until the water flows clear after heavy rains struck the country.

At least three people have died after heavy flooding, with 19 missing.

Water gushing down from the Andes has cut off roads and isolated thousands of people.

The rains caused rivers to overflow their banks in mountain valleys near the capital Santiago.


Businesses have been told to stay closed and people are stocking up on bottled water.

Image: Standpipes have been set up to supply clean water

The regional governor of Santiago, Claudio Orrego, said: "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.

"We still do not know when the drinking water will be turned back on. We cannot guarantee resumption of the service until the River Maipo clears up."

Aguas Andinas, the company that supplies water to the city, said heavy rain was making restoring water supplies extremely difficult.

Image: People walk along a damaged road in Santiago after the rainstorms

Among those who died was a 12-year-old girl who was killed when a landslide swept away a car in the O'Higgins region, south of Santiago.

Emergency crews battled to clear roads of debris in San de Maipo valley above Santiago, where one person died.