Bolivia floods: Homes destroyed and animals rescued

The mayor of Cobija, a city in the north of Bolivia, has declared the area a disaster zone because of heavy rain.

Local authorities say thousands of people have been displaced with homes and businesses damaged in the flooding. It comes following days of torrential downpours.

As of Wednesday, rains in Bolivia had left 42 people dead and affected 31,000 families, according to the country's Civil Defence.

Volunteers have been rescuing pets left by homeowners who had to evacuate.