The emergency services said at least 19 people died and 50 remain missing after a key bridge over the Chapare river in central Bolivia collapsed in the floods. Bolivia's government has declared an emergency.

Rescue teams discovered the bodies of 13 more people, bringing the death toll to 19, believed to have been travelling in a bus that fell into flood waters shortly after the bridge collapsed under a torrent of water.

Many of the missing, including three children, are presumed to have been swept away in the bus which was believed to have been carrying some 45 passengers.

One passenger who escaped from the bus said many fellow passengers had been sleeping just before the bus was carried away.

Other vehicles were also swept away after the 400 meter (437 yard) bridge collapse, and rescue workers near Villa Tunari continue to search for survivors.

The floods caused widespread material damage to houses, as well as damaging a principal highway that passes through the region and which carries a majority of Bolivia's road traffic.

Rescue squads intensified the hunt for survivors Wednesday after the flood waters, which had risen to 30 meters (98 feet), receded.

Public Works minister Jorge Urquidi said it is likely to take six months to rebuild the damaged Chapare bridge at a cost of some one million dollars.

The adverse weather also damaged crops and killed livestock.

TERRA.WIRE