Strong floods hit Bolivia

At least 53 residents were killed, 100 injured and 50 reported missing, while thousands were made homeless as freak floods hit the capital of La Paz, transforming streets into heavy rivers. Panic spreads among the local population: people are leaving their homes.

The government placed the city under a state of emergency. Resque teams continue searching for survivors. Roads were destroyed, and some city districts were left without electricity.

La Paz and the area around it were declared "emergency zones" and the government of President Jorge Quiroga decreed a day of national mourning in memory of the victims of the floods.

Resque teams are expected to demolish the debris in a fortnight.