La Paz, February 15 (RHC) -- Bolivia has called for international aid to help tens of thousands of flood victims around the country, whose communities have been destroyed by recent heavy rains.

Bolivia's Senate leader Eugenio Rojas made the appeal at a press conference, saying "the government has decided to ask friendly nations and international organizations for help in health care, food, tents, to get people out."

Rojas said President Evo Morales met on Friday with ambassadors and the representatives of aid organizations to coordinate aid efforts.

According to security officials, some 55 people have been killed in the flooding, while 55,645 families have been left homeless nationwide, with 133 towns affected by the emergency.

One of the first nations to respond to the tragedy, Argentina has pledged to, among other things, send a team of rescue workers to help with the aid effort.