Six dead, 18 hurt in Ecuador mudslide

on 24/01/2013 20:05:02

At least six people have been killed and 18 others injured in mudslides triggered by heavy rain in a gold-mining community in southern Ecuador, officials said.

Azuay state governor Humberto Cordero said he does not yet have an estimate of how many people are missing after the disaster which happened before dawn today after six hours of torrential downpours.

Mr Cordero told the Associated Press the mudslides have buried homes and blocked roads in the community of Pueblo Nuevo. He said the community can only be reached by helicopter.

The AP reached a rescuer, Octavio Pena, who was approaching by road and unable to reach the town. Mr Pena said it was still raining.