La Paz (dpa) - By late Wednesday 22 bodies have been recovered from the mud and rubble two days after the side of a mountain collapsed burying 400 homes in a mining village in northern Bolivia.
The mudslide occurred Monday in the gold-mining town of Chima, about 190 kilometres north of La Paz. Estimates range from 30 to 400 people still buried in the landslide which covered an area of nearly two square kilometres.
Bolivian Defence Minister Freddy Teodovic said the number of dead and missing can only be confirmed when the rescue efforts are completed.
More than 1,000 rescue workers have been searching for survivors since Monday, however continuing rains and danger from further landslides have obstructed the work.
Of the approximately 3,000 inhabitants, a large number were saved as the majority of children were attending a nearby school and the men were working in the gold mine, it was reported.
Some villagers said that it was probable that victims had been dragged away by the Chima river as they tried to flee the landslide.
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Received by NewsEdge Insight: 04/03/2003 00:01:36
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