Flooding in Bolivia 'leaves 35 dead'

At least 35 people have died in Bolivia as a result of flooding and a further ten are missing, reports the BBC.

Months of heavy rain has left whole communities displaced, with up to 340,000 people affected by the flood waters.

Officials in the region of Beni, located in the north-east of the country, have appealed for helicopters to distribute food after the flooding cut off communities.

The weather has made it increasingly difficult to get aid to certain communities in the worst-affected areas.

The government has declared a state of emergency and has appealed for international aid.

Bolivia's new president, Evo Morales, made the appeal last week when the heavy rains began to take their toll.

Cuba has reportedly sent several hundred doctors to the area and aid agencies have been campaigning for funds.

The extreme weather has been blamed on an El Nino weather pattern which causes above average warmth in the region.