BOGOTA: At least 40 people have been killed in floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains in the South American nation of Peru, according to the National Emergency Operations Centre.
The casualties were mainly in the regions of Arequipa, Secocha and Camana, the Anadolu Agency reported.
A total of 5,495 houses, 538km of roads and 34 bridges were damaged by the landslides, according to news reports.
Thousands of people were left homeless as a result of the landslides. Search and rescue efforts are still underway.
A state of emergency has been declared in the Arequipa region, where the devastation was most severe, it added.
Efforts remain underway to deliver aid to those affected by the devastation.