In the western province of Beni, 28,000 families have been affected by flooding from the Ibare River, an Amazon River tributary that broke its banks and swamped the area.

Maria Modesta Yarai lives In the rural village of Puerto Almacen (all-mah-SEHN) and she said the flood waters have consistently remained high.

one victim Maria Modesta Yarari said that the water came in on January 31 when the river´s banks broke so we have been flooded like this since then.

The floods have caused major crop damage and residents in this agrarian community expressed health-related concerns not only about themselves, but also about their animals.

Many residents have escaped to higher ground, like at this local school where they set-up makeshift tents to wait for the water to recede.

Nidian Najaya while setting up her tent with her children told that hey came to the school because they couldn´t find rooms anywhere else.

Residents in Puerto Almacen fear the waters will rise even further however when rain falling further upstream makes its way down the mountains.