Rain, floods cause deaths, evacuations in Chile

SANTIAGO, May 22 (Reuters) - Four people were killed and close to 5,000 forced out of their homes amid heavy rain and flooding in central and southern Chile, and the evacuation figure could rise further, the government said on Thursday.

Of those killed, two died in landslides, one was struck by a boulder and another was hit by a falling tree.

Television images showed streets turned into rivers in the port town of Valparaiso, where 93 mm (3.7 inches) of rain fell in 24 hours during two storm fronts.

Nearly 350 people were lodged in shelters, while most of the displaced were staying with friends and relatives, the government said.

Parts of Chile experience downpours and flooding every year in the run-up to the Southern Hemisphere winter.

"We have information about a third system coming in, but the rains will be more moderate than in the first system," Deputy Interior Minister Felipe Harboe told reporters.

On a positive note, the rain has refilled reservoirs drained in recent months by one of Chile's worst droughts in decades.

Authorities said the major Colbun COL.SN reservoir, owned by the company of the same name and located in southern central Chile, has seen its levels rise beyond the historical average for May.

Shares in the company, Chile's second-biggest electricity generator, rose with dam levels on Thursday, gaining 3.53 percent to 95 pesos a share in afternoon trade.

Most affected by the rains this week have been Chile's Maule, Bio-Bio, Araucania and Los Rios regions. (Reporting by Antonio de la Jara; Additional reporting by Pav Jordan; Editing by Eric Walsh)