Heavy rains kill 48 in Colombia in 2010

Heavy rains that have been pouring down on Colombia since the beginning of the rainy season in January cost the lives of 48 people so far, authorities say.

The rains have affected a total of 47,000 people, mostly because floods or mudslides damaged houses or destroyed crops.

So far, the rains causes emergencies in 27 of the country’s 32 departments.

The rainy season normally lasts until mid-June, but is continuing into July. Following an exceptionally dry year in 2009 because of climate phenomenon El Niño, meteorologists expect 2010 to be unusually wet because of La Niña.