Twenty people have been killed in floods in Ecuador, as heavy rains pounded the country.<br/> <br />More than 4,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes, as flood waters rose.<br/> <br />An elderly woman had to be carried out of her home on a stretcher. Rescuers took her and her husband on a boat to safer ground.<br/> <br />Flood evacuees were temporarily housed in schools and government shelters in the town of Calceta.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FLOOD VICTIM, PASCUAL MURILLO, WHO HAS BEEN STAYING IN THE SHELTER FOR TWO DAYS SO FAR, SAYING:<br/> <br />"I don't know how long [I'll be in the shelter]. Because they say the river is going to rise again today. My house is completely destroyed. It's gone."<br/> <br />Relief workers were scrambling to distribute food, water and other supplies in shelters across the country.<br/> <br />Many said they lost everything in the floods.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) GOVERNMENT SOCIAL WORKER, MARGARITA MOREIRA, SAYING:<br/> <br />"Others were able to grab a few things from their homes, but the majority don't have anything."<br/> <br />Earlier this week, La Esperanza Dam was overwhelmed by heavy rains and the reservoir spilled over and flooded nearby towns.<br/> <br />The Ecuador government has declared a state of emergency in six provinces.<br/> <br />Michaela Cabrera, Reuters.
