Uruguay flooding forces 4000 from their homes

Flooding from days of heavy rain in Uruguay has forced nearly 4,000 people from their homes, officials said Monday.

In the central province of Durazno, the Yi River has swelled to 11 meters (36 feet) above its normal level after a nearly a week of torrential downpours, civil defense officials said.

The Yi and two other rivers have overflown their banks and flooded several provinces.

Seven national highways remain cut off, the National Police said.

Similar downpours recently in neighboring Argentina left four people dead and forced more than 6,000 from their homes.

As recently as late July, drought was causing restrictions on water consumption in Uruguay. Now, the rain is seemingly relentless.