150,000 people displaced by floods in South America

As many as 150,000 people were believed to have been displaced in three South American countries due to severe flooding, local media reported Thursday.

Flooding sparked by days of torrential rain in Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina led officials to evacuate tens of thousands to shelters.

Paraguay was the worst hit of the three countries, with around 100,000 people evacuated up to Wednesday after the Paraguay River burst its banks.

The severe floods have killed five people, including four people in Paraguay and a young boy in Argentina who was electrocuted.

Paraguay's President Horacio Cartes declared a state of emergency to funnel disaster relief to hard-hit areas, including the capital city of Asuncion.

In Argentina, more than 20,000 people were affected, according to media reports.

As one of South America's main rivers, the Paraguay River runs through Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia and Brazil.

By the Christmas Eve, the river had risen 7.71 meters, Argentina's Telam news agency reported, citing Victor Peralta, the director of emergency and disaster management for Asuncion.

"Peralta did not rule out the possibility that the river will continue to rise and with it the number of evacuees," Telam said.

Source: XINHUA