Rains kill 24 in Venezuela
Heavy rains in recent days in Venezuela left 24 dead, 578 injured and many missing, said Thursday Civil Protection (PC) director Colonel Antonio Rivero.

During a press conference, the official said the downpour, which has not let up since Monday, has affected 7,978 families and 7,859 houses, 116 of which were destroyed.

Four people were swept away by the torrents of the overflowing Sanare River in Portuguesa state, and the bodies of three have been found. One is that of an eight-year-old girl, the other a ten-year-old girl, and the third a 52-year-old.

The fourth one, a 36-year-old individual, remains missing.

Rivero said officials are searching for another person missing in the central state of Carabobo after being dragged away by a ravine stream in the Antonio Jose de Sucre neighborhood of Montalban municipality.

The official added that another round of preventive action against tropical storms and hurricanes will be carried out by Friday.