The Associated Press
Wednesday, July 12, 2006; 8:17 PM

SANTIAGO, Chile -- Flooding and landslides triggered by heavy rain in central Chile left at least 11 people dead and forced 30,000 to flee their inundated homes Wednesday, the government said.

President Michelle Bachelet declared a state of emergency in the area, about 300 miles south of Santiago, because of massive flooding triggered by rain-swollen rivers, the Interior Ministry's National Emergency Office said.

Seven of the deaths occurred in a landslide in Chiguayante, where a family of four was buried along with three firefighters, the emergency office said.

A police officer remained missing after he and another officer were swept away by the Teno River on Tuesday night. The second officer was found clinging to branches 18 miles down river Wednesday.

Chilean power generators opened floodgates at major reservoirs because of the heavy rain that also washed out roads and cut electricity in isolated rural areas.