Death toll from Peru landslides climbs to nine

LIMA: The death toll from landslides in three small Peruvian communities has risen to nine following the discovery of a young girl in a river on Thursday, an official said.

Roads were destroyed and homes wiped away or buried on Monday following torrential rain in the Chosica, Santa Eulalia and Cocachacra communities located around 40 kilometers (25 miles) east of Lima.

"The ninth victim, less than 11 years old, the daughter of the Cocachacra mayor... was found Thursday in part of the Rimac River," public prosecutor Ana Maria Cuba told RPP radio.

Five of the deaths were reported Monday, while the remaining four, which include a mother and daughter buried under rocks and mud in Chosica, were found later.

Travel has been interrupted on the main road linking the communities to the Peruvian capital, but the route would be open again on Friday, the government said.