Shocking images show people being swept away in mudslides down a main street after torrential rain in Ecuador with 11 confirmed dead so far and more than 30 injured.
Muddy water can be seen sweeping down roads taking all before it including cars and container bins while people are being pushed along by its force.
One resident, Belen Bermeo, told local media: “I saw how the current swept away a man and a boy, it was terrible.”
Another, Emerson Rubio, tweeted: "Right now in La Gasca, in Quito there is a mudslide caused by the heavy rain. The water is sweeping away several cars and there are people trapped."
Onlookers can be heard screaming and trying to help others out of the water.
The mayor of the city of Quito has confirmed that 11 people have been killed and a further 32 injured.
The local authority said that the mudslide was caused by the heaviest rainfall since 2003 where 75 litres fell per square metre.
People have been told to stay in their homes and wait to be rescued by emergency services.
A local authority statement read: “Quito Mayor Santiago Guarderas Izquierdo is coordinating the emergency work caused by the mudslide that occurred on Monday afternoon, January 31, which has killed 11 deaths - with four of those people identified.
“There are 32 injured who have been taken to refuges nearby and families affected have been put up in hostels."
Mr Guarderas said: "This is very sad and we offer our condolences and support for the families of the dead and injured."
The mudslide has affected the Comuna area of Quito with the mudslide flowing down La Gasca avenue which had become full of mud and debris.
Police, fire fighters and soldiers along with other specialist emergency services were helping to get people to safety.
The rain began in the area of “El Tejado” ravine caused by the heavy rain over the last few days.
The mudslide swept past a sports centre were people were playing and that is believed to be where the majority of the deaths so far took place.
Images on social media also show soldiers working in extremely difficult terrain with the mud continuing to flow and taking with it large debris.
In one distressing clip a body can be seen being taken out of the mud while another image shows a girl being rescued and carried to safety by police.
