Heavy rains start in central and southern Chile while aftershock takes place

May 5, 2010 Heavy rains have started on Wednesday early morning through the most of central and southern Chile. At least 29 millimeters were reported by in the  in Wednesday morning; thirteen milimeters in  and 8.8 in. It has been worsen by the low temperatures. The rains have affected thousands of people that lost their homes after the great 8.8 earthquake and subsequent tsunami earlier this year. In Chiguayante, firefighters emptied a camp that was completely inundated by the rains. It is expected that the downfalls will provoke chills and respiratory problems in children and the elderly. The rains have damaged some roads in Pichilemu, Wikinews' Diego Grez reported.

President Sebastián Piñera has visited some locations affected by the rains, including Chocholgue, San Pedro de La Paz,, and Maule. People told him and Interior Minister Rodrigo Hinzpeter that the mediaguas, or small houses, given out by the government don't block out the water and humidity. There are also people that haven't received tents or mediaguas yet. The government announced that ambulances will constantly patrol the cities.

Meanwhile, an earthquake hit the area, with the epicenter offshore of, 65 kilometers northwest of , at 11:24 am local time (15:24 UTC), with a depth of 30.1 kilometers. The reported the quake measured magnitude 4.9, although the  Geological Survey reported it as 6.1. There was no tsunami warning.