Santiago de Chile - At least four people were killed in southern Chile in the worst storms to hit the country in the last decades, authorities said Wednesday.

The strong winds and rains which have lashed the regions of Maule and Araucania, a stretch of the country 400 to 900 kilometres south of the capital, since the start of the week caused significant damage to houses, power grids and crops.

More than 23,000 people were affected, local authorities said. Rainfalls caused almost all rivers in the region to flood. Chile's President Michelle Bachelet promised rapid help for the affected population. (dpa)