Quito, March 24 (teleSUR-RHC) At least 11 people have died due to heavy rains affecting large parts of Ecuador over the past five days, the country’s Risk Management Secretariat said Monday. Six people, including two Colombians, were killed when their vehicles were buried by a landslide last Thursday on the main road connecting Quito with the coast.

Meanwhile, relief workers said that other vehicles could still be under the earth debris. Authorities added that at least 736 people have been evacuated while other 449 had to seek refuge due to the torrential rains.

The affected families have been assisted by aid centers and the government has deployed an emergency team to address the situation. The recent heavy precipitation in Latin America’s Andean region has affected most of Ecuador’s provinces, causing landslides, floods and overflowing rivers.