Powerful South American storm causes death, damage

ASUNCION, Paraguay (AP) - 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 100kph 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 centre in the suburb of Mariano Roque Alonso.

"All the lights went out and the wind began to blow, but this wind we thought it was a hurricane. It lasted about two minutes. It was terrible," said Mr Andres Caballero, who was inside the shopping centre.