ReliefWeb

Caracas (dpa) - Heavy rainfall in Venezuela has killed five people and forced 900 others from their homes, press reports said Friday.

El Nacional newspaper said a young man was electrocuted and another dragged away by a torrent of water in the state of Zulia. Another two people were killed in Zulia earlier this week by the rains, and a woman in Caracas was crushed by a collapsing roof.

In February, torrential rains killed 40 people and left thousands homeless in central and western Venezuela.

Meanwhile, Central America breathed a sigh of relief Friday after Hurricane Adrian, the first hurricane of the season, lost force after crossing through El Salvador and moving into Honduras. The storm, which had weakened into a tropical depression, was expected to dissipate completely before reaching the Caribbean.

El Salvador suffered landslides, and other damage from heavy rains from the storm, but it appeared there were no fatalities or major damage, President Antonio Saca said. The entire region had taken precautionary measures before Adrian struck.

Adrian, which made landfall in El Salvador late Thursday, also caused flooding in Nicaragua. dpa am ls