Four Dead from Falling Trees in Central Paraguay Storm

ASUNCION – At least four people died in two accidents where trees fell onto their vehicles during a powerful wind- and rainstorm that has beset central and southern Paraguay since early Thursday morning, police said.

Three of the victims died when a tree fell onto the pickup truck in which they were riding on the road linking the cities of Caacupe and Asuncion, police spokesmen told a local radio station.

In addition, a woman died when a tree fell onto her as she was riding a motorcycle along a street in Asuncion.

The storm has left several districts of Greater Asuncion without power, especially the southern zone of Ñeembucu, where the wind toppled at least 21 telephone poles, according to the state-run National Electricity Administration, or ANDE.

The storm came as thousands of people for more than a week have been living in rickety shacks in the capital, which they erected after losing their homes to flooding caused by the rising waters of the Paraguay River.