At least 20 people died as a result of flooding in the city of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, and the same number of people are considered missing, said the Deputy Minister of Defense of Bolivia, Alfredo Troche.
"The number of victims has reached 20. More than 20 people are considered missing. Unfortunately, the number of victims will definitely increase," he said on Bolivia TV. The city authorities have declared the region a disaster zone. El Torno region was the most affected by the floods. According to the authorities, more than 600 families were affected by the disaster.
Heavy rains hit Santa Cruz on December 13, causing several rivers in the region to overflow their banks.
