Hill collapse in Bolivian capital ruins 400 homes

LA PAZ. February 28. KAZINFORM Heavy rains caused a hilltop to collapse in a poor neighborhood of the Bolivian capital Sunday, cracking roads, destroying at least 400 homes and burying people's belongings under mud and debris; Kazinform refers to China Daily.

There were no fatalities but significant damage from the landslide in the barrio of Callapa, La Paz Mayor Luis Revilla said.

Edwin Herrera, a city government spokesman, called Sunday's slide the worst that La Paz has ever seen - and he said the earth was still moving downhill.

"So far we are talking about 5,000 (people) affected, but the slide is affecting neighborhoods in lower areas," he said.

Residents began evacuating late Saturday when the hill, saturated after prolonged rains, began sliding and cracks appeared in streets and home.

Meanwhile, crews with heavy equipment were trying to keep the earth from backing up a river channel.

Defense Minister Ruben Saavedra said soldiers were mobilized to aid evacuation and recovery efforts.

A hilltop cemetery was split in two when an enormous crack opened in the ground.

Heavy rains are blamed for 44 deaths around the country in recent weeks; Kazinform cites China Daily.

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