BOGOTA, May 25 (AFP) - At least 29 people have died and 67,000 have fled their homes after rainstorms caused widespread flooding and mudslides across Colombia, rescue workers and government officials said.

The rains hit hardest in the Narino department bordering Ecuador, where floods and mudslides have taken 20 lives since Saturday, Governor Jesus Romero told AFP Wednesday.

Five people died in the department capital of Pasto alone, while 15 other people perished in rural areas.

Romero said 11 people have been reported missing and are presumed to lie buried under mudslides.

Another nine people were killed in floods in the nearby Putumayo department, local authorities reported, adding that 36 more people were still missing.

The Colombian Red Cross said more than 67.500 people had been made homeless by the storms that drenched the country from May 18 to 24.

axm/fgf/ccr AFP

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Received by NewsEdge Insight: 05/25/2000 06:52:42

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