Caracas, August 29 (RHC)-- Residents in the province of Amazonas are facing unprecedented floods resulting from heavy rains and the swelling of the Orinoco River.

Over 10,000 people have been affected by the situation in Puerto Ayacucho according to local media, with more than 36 sectors in the province under alert.

The province's government has deployed units from the Civilian Protection and the Armed Forces in a bid to address the situation.   The river had never grown to such level in history, according to authorities, with only a similar rise of 54 centimeters in 1976.

Interior Minister Nestor Reverol also set up an aerial bridge in order to guarantee the supply of food and medicine to the province.