Flooding causes state of emergency in Uruguay by Kirsty McCabe
Uruguay has declared a national disaster after experiencing the worst flooding in 50 years. An exceptionally wet few months combined with a week of heavy rainfall has forced around 12,000 people to leave their homes. The floods have affected more than 110,000 people, destroying crops and infrastructure amounting to millions of dollars in damage.
The central city of Duranzo has been hit the hardest, with 20% of the population being evacuated as the torrential rain continues. The Yi River rose to 14 metres above its average level resulting in flash floods and landslides, and leaving 30,000 people without access to clean water.
As water is being pumped in from other cities, concerns are now being raised over the spread of diseases such as Malaria and the levels of sanitation. With the South American Met Office predicting the onset of more extreme weather, the number of people affected is expected to rise, with many now vulnerable communities fearing the worst.
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