Thousands forced from homes by floods in Ecuador
Mar 25, 2012, 8:56 PM
QUITO, Ecuador (AP) – Ecuador’s government says floods and mudslides have caused at least 10 deaths so far this year and forced about 4,700 people to flee their homes.
Heavy rains have set off mudslides in some areas and caused rivers to overflow.
The government emergency management office said on Sunday that at least 10 people have died and 14 have been injured during heavy rains since January.
Agency official Christian Taco says more than 4,700 people have evacuated their homes this year. Of those, about 2,800 are staying in disaster shelters while others moved in with relatives.
Government Water Secretary Walter Soliz says one mudslide in western Manabi province on Saturday forced more than 100 people to evacuate a nearby neighborhood.
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