Heavy flooding hits Peru

UPSOT HOME COLLAPSING

Peru is in a state of emergency.

Heavy rains have flooded rivers, bursting the banks and submerging nearby towns and villages.

Here in Cajabamba town, the rains have destroyed homes, killed livestock, swamped fields and damaged crops.

(SOUNDBITE)(Spanish) TEODORO ALBOSO, FLOOD VICTIM, SAYING

"The problem is the houses are falling. Everything is lost."

Peruvian President Ollanta Humala says his government is keeping an eye on the situation.

(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) OLLANTA HUMALA, PERUVIAN PRESIDENT, SAYING:

"We're monitoring the rain situation at the national level which are causing a series of problems in many regions like Cusco, Arequipa, Puno-- but we're doing so in coordination with the regional government which have let us know that the regional governments are still able to resolve those problems."

This season's flooding has killed at least 15 people and displaced thousands of residents.

But with forecast of more rain, Peruvians are bracing themselves for the worst.

Sarah Wali, Reuters.