Bolivia Rain
Bolivia's President Evo Morales, right, walks with the commander of the Armed Forces of Bolivia, Gen. Carlos Ramiro de la Fuente, center, during a vi...
Bolivia's President Evo Morales, right, walks with the commander of the Armed Forces of Bolivia, Gen. Carlos Ramiro de la Fuente, center, during a visit to a neighborhood hit by a landslide in La Paz, Friday, Jan. 29, 2010. The landslide, caused by heavy rains, destroyed at least 70 homes. The Bolivian government has declared a national emergency due to the rains and flooding in the country.(AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Bolivia Rains
Police officers walk over the remains of a home that was destroyed after a landslide in La Paz, Friday, Jan. 29, 2010. The landslide, cause by heavy...
Police officers walk over the remains of a home that was destroyed after a landslide in La Paz, Friday, Jan. 29, 2010. The landslide, cause by heavy rains, destroyed at least 70 homes and has promoted the Bolivian government to declare a national emergency due to the rains and flooding.(AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Heavy rains set off deadly floods and a mudslide in Bolivia that destroyed 70 homes in the capital and left nine dead elsewhere.
Officials say at least nine people died as a consequence of heavy rains affecting mostly eastern Bolivia. Thousands of acres (hectares) of crops and grassland there are under water.
In La Paz, President Evo Morales on Friday toured the site of the slide and declared a national disaster.
The hillside underneath the houses slowly gave way on Thursday. But the homes were emptied, and there were no deaths.
Bolivia's Meteorological Service says the El Nino weather phenomenon is responsible for the unusually heavy rains that should continue.
