14 dead, thousands affected in Peru deluge

At least 14 people were killed while 29 others were injured and some 44,000 more were affected in Peru during past two days by heavy rains and ensuing flooding and landslides, authorities said Thursday. Nonstop downpours are pounding 80 percent of the country and at least 4,861 people have been left homeless, according to a statement issued by the National Civil Defense Institute, or Indeci. The San Martin province, located in a central part of the Peruvian Amazon, has been hit hardest by the rains with 18,030 people affected and 202 left homeless. The territorial rains have caused numerous rivers to overflow as at least 669 homes, schools, medical centers were destroyed and croplands of thousands of small farmers were damaged. Almost 19 kilometers of highways were severely damaged while another 783 kilometers suffered lesser damage. Four bridges collapsed and another 13 were left in bad shape. Transportation links to many towns in the country's 22 provinces were cut off, and authorities are trying to reach those isolated communities to deliver food and other aid. The Indeci has so far provided 92.25 tons of emergency aid, including shelters, food, household possessions, tools and other basic necessities.