Bogota  - Ten people were killed in an avalanche Wednesday in the south-western Colombian town of Miranda, following heavy rains that have fallen on the South American country for weeks.

Colombian radio station Caracol said the avalanche caused by an overflowing river buried people living in a humble area of Miranda, 300 kilometres southwest of Bogota, in the province of Cauca.

According to rescue teams, the rain has affected 255 municipalities in 26 of Colombia's 32 provinces since mid-September. Forty-four people have died, while some
600,000 people have suffered damage to their property, according to recent reports.

The Cauca river, in north-western Colombia, flowed over its banks Tuesday, increasing the number of people who suffered damage to their property by 50,000 in a single day. The municipalities of Nechi and Guaranda, in the provinces of Antioquia and Sucre, respectively, were completely flooded.

The rainy season in Colombia usually ends in mid-December each year. (dpa)