25 Dead, 101 Missing in Chile Floods

The death toll from rainstorms which deluged northern Chile has risen to 25 and could increase further with another 101 still missing, officials said.

Flash floods broke out last week across the Atacama region, home to the world's driest desert, submerging entire towns and leaving thousands of people homeless.

Mudslides, triggered by melting Andean snow, wiped out roads and destroyed buildings.

According to a tally put out Friday by the National Emergency Office, about 2,700 victims of the flooding are being housed in emergency accommodation and as many as 30,000 people have been affected.

President Michelle Bachelet has cancelled a trip to a regional summit to cope with the crisis. She visited the region Saturday, pledging to help locals recover.

Aid workers have so far helped to restore essential services and provide hundreds of tons of food, hygiene and health products.

The government also sent 89,000 doses of flu vaccine, 27,000 against tetanus and 7,600 against hepatitis A.

Health officials have warned there is a high risk of outbreaks of gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases because of the mud and lack of drinking water.

Last week's downpour lashed the area for hours, turning riverbeds that had been dry for years into torrents.