World

Flood toll now 57

12:53 pm on 6 April 2013

The death toll from flash floods in the province of Buenos Aires in Argentina, is now 57. Hundreds more people remain homeless.

The worst hit is the city of La Plata, where 51 people died. Six people also died in the capital Buenos Aires.

The government has declared three days of national mourning.

La Plata mayor Pablo Bruera said some 100,000 households were destroyed by the floods.

Officials said on Thursday they were still looking for about 20 missing people.

The BBC reports mobile hospitals have been opened and hepatitis shots are being administered at evacuation centres.

Provincial officials said 40cm of rain fell on La Plata in the space of two hours late on Tuesday night.

Earlier, 15cm of rainfall fell on the capital, Buenos Aires.