Santiago  - Over 1.8 million people were without drinking water Friday in Santiago, due to the effects of a rain and wind storm that has affected a large area in the centre and the south of Chile since Tuesday.

The interruption of water supply - which was not expected to be restored before Saturday - affected the Metropolitan Santiago neighbourhoods of Coinchali, Independencia, Recoleta, La Cisterna, San Bernardo, San Ramon, El Bosque, La Pintana, Nunoa, Penalolen, Las Condes and Macul.

Additionally, some 13,000 people suffered damage to their property, mostly in southern Chile, emergency officials said Friday.

The rain caused several rivers to overflow, leading to the evacuation of 1,500 people in the town of Molina.

The authorities cancelled lessons for 1 million school students in Santiago, and similar measures were adopted in several areas in southern Chile.

The storm further cut off rural paths and the main road that links Santiago to southern Chile was blocked in at least one place, in Teno, some 400 kilometres from Santiago.

The most affected area is the region of Biobio, where 7,886 suffered damage to their property, according to national emergency director Carmen Fernandez. A further 4,997 people suffered damage to their possessions in the Maule region. (dpa)