Tegucigalpa  - The number of dead in Honduras as a result of recent heavy rain and subsequent flooding rose to 23, the authorities said late Wednesday.

Most of the dead were believed to have drowned in the currents of overflowing rivers, the country's civil protection authorities said.

In Honduran capital Tegucigalpa, seven people died in mudslides in the hills, where many thousands of poor live in improvised homes.

Honduras has been suffering heavy rain for two weeks, and much of its territory is flooded. The main rivers have flowed over their banks.

Some 200,000 have suffered damage to their property, and thousands of hectares of crops have been lost. There has further been substantial damage to homes, roads, bridges and other elements of infrastructure.

Some 30,000 people had been taken to emergency accommodation.

At least 375 inmates had to be evacuated from the flooded jail in the northern town of El Progreso, 240 kilometres from Tegucigalpa. They were taken to the city of San Pedro Sula.

The rain was not expected to stop in the coming days.

The authorities in Nicaragua said Monday that the rain had left 17 dead in its territory, while a further six were reported dead in Costa Rica for the same reason. (dpa)