Two months of heavy rains leave 83 killed in Colombia

The storms hit the northwestern provinces in the South American country

At least 83 peaople have died in Colombia after two months of torrential rains that have affected the northwestern provinces in the South American nation. According to a report issued by the country's Civil protection authorities, also a quarter of a million of people has been affected by the flooding, mudslides and over flown rivers caused by the intense rains, which began in September.

The report says that the worst-hit provinces are those located in the northwestern region: Magdalena, Sucre, Cordoba and Cesar, where the monster floods have ruined rice and cotton fields seriously damaging country's economy. The World Food Programme reported that many farmers have been forced to abandon their farms.

Colombian authorities said that this year's rainy season was the worst for the last five years. The river Magdalena brook its banks, flooding dozens of villages. The governor of Magdalena Trino Luna Correa and his staff donated part of their salaries to the aid effort.

The annual tropical rains, which began in early September, are expected to continue until mid-December, raising fears of further deaths.