Powerful South American storm causes death and damage

By Pedro Servin

Associated Press

Published: Wednesday, Sept. 19 2012 9:59 p.m. MDT

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Officers inspect a Paraguayan Army Logistic Command dormitory where four military cadets were killed when their roof caved in during an overnight storm, in Mariano Roque Alonso, Paraguay, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. A powerful storm killed five people and injured 81 in Paraguay as a storm blew across the southern cone of South America, ripping the roofs off of ramshackle homes and leaving thousands of people without shelter. (AP Photo)

Associated Press

Summary

A powerful storm killed five people and injured 81 in Paraguay as it blew across the southern cone of South America on Wednesday, ripping roofs off ramshackle homes and leaving thousands of people without shelter.

ASUNCION, Paraguay — A powerful storm killed five people and injured 81 in Paraguay as it blew across the southern cone of South America on Wednesday, ripping roofs off ramshackle homes and leaving thousands of people without shelter.

No deaths were reported outside Paraguay, but power outages were widespread and many people had to be evacuated as rivers overran their banks and coastal areas flooded. Wind gusts reached above 62 mph and heavy rains raked Paraguay, southern Brazil, northern Argentina and Uruguay.

Near Paraguay's capital, Asuncion, four soldiers died and 14 were injured when their dormitory roof caved in, and a falling sign killed a teenage girl outside a shopping center in the suburb of Mariano Roque Alonso.

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