Heavy storm kills 28 people in Ecuador

QUITO, March 11 (Xinhua) -- At least 28 people were killed and another 20 missing in flood and mudslide caused by a heavy storm that hit many parts of Ecuador, officials said on Tuesday.

The west coast of Ecuador was the hardest hit by the heaviest storm in a decade, which swept through 13 of the nation's 24 provinces. In the provinces of Manabi, Guayas and Los Rios, the storm damaged roads and caused mudslide.

About 300,000 residents were affected by the storm. Almost 10,000families were evacuated from their homes, media reports said.

Emergency officials said three vehicles, including a bus, were swept away by a mudslide in Manabi province. The driver of the bus was rescued but 20 people onboard were missing. The storm paralyzed traffic in the region, hampering rescue efforts.

Weathermen forecast the stormy weather could last until April. The Ecuadoran government has declared a state of emergency in the disaster-hit area and appealed for international emergency aid.