Six die in rains in Nicaragua

Managua, Agency
Six people have died since the start of the week in the heavy rains in Nicaragua, raising the death toll from the torrential rains this year to 40, emergency management officials said.
"The rains have mainly affected rural areas in the northern and central parts of the country, where there are streams and rivers that have been crossed without caution by adults," emergency management chief Gen. Mario Perezcassar told.

The majority of the 40 people killed in the rains lost their lives because they failed to use caution, while three others died in a mudslide on the southern outskirts of Managua, Perezcassar said.

A total of 32,000 people, including 19,857 in the Caribbean region, have been affected by the rains, the emergency management chief said.

The government established 32 shelters to assist victims, of which 20 remain open and are housing 1,800 people, who are being provided with food and medical care, Perezcassar said.

The rains damaged 4,128 dwellings, of which 125 were completely destroyed, the emergency management chief said.

Forecasts call for the rains to continue due to atmospheric conditions, Perezcassar said.