Storms in Peru leave thousands homeless

Officials in Peru say that at least twenty-four people have been killed and six thousand people have been left homeless by mudslides and flooding in several parts of the country.

The head of civil defence, General Homero Nurena, said that the storms were caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon which -- he said -- was affecting Peru in an unusual way this year.

The El Nino weather pattern warms sea temperatures off Peru's Pacific coast, causing unusually heavy rain in the north of the country every two to seven years.

Civilian defence officials say that the violent storms have so far caused damage to roads, bridges and crops worth twelve million dollars.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service