Heavy Rains Massive Flooding in Uruguay
Pastor Dale Morgan
*Heavy Rains Massive Flooding in Uruguay*
From correspondents in Montevideo
May 11, 2007 11:35am
Article from: Agence France-Presse
URUGUAY has declared a national disaster after days of flooding forced
the evacuation of thousands of people and caused millions of dollars in
losses.
Some 12,000 people have been forced from their homes since heavy rains
that began last week caused rivers to overflow their banks across much
of the country.
Flooding was most severe in the central city of Durazno, where half of
those forced from their homes were located - some 20 per cent of
Durazno's population.
But in many other areas as well roads and bridges have been cut off,
sewage systems jammed, and water, power and telephone links brought down.
The floods have wrecked homes, businesses and crops, causing inestimable
financial losses.
"We'll have to wait for the waters to go down to make an estimate of the
damages," Luis Lazo, the Vice Minister of Transportation and Public
Works, told the newspaper Ultimas Noticias.
The disaster declaration will allow the Government to release $US45
million ($54.5 million) in emergency funds, but the Government was to
seek help as well from the Inter-American Development Bank and the UN
Development Program, officials said.
"In cases like these, at times it is necessary to turn to international
aid," Mr Lazo said.