Bolivia's western La Paz department governor Cesar Cocarico on Monday declared his state a "disaster zone" due to the magnitude of the damage caused by recent heavy rains while Bolivian President Evo Morales pledged the government' s full support for thousands of victims of rain-caused disasters.

Cocarico told a press conference "the whole department is experiencing days of desperation. Many people are drinking the water that has flooded their homes and that drove us to declare La Paz as a disaster zone."

More than 5,000 families in the department of La Paz have been affected by severe rains since the beginning of January. As many as 19 towns have been badly hit in his department, Cocarico said.

"We have to build homes, roads, tend the crops, help many people who are now beginning to get sick," he said, adding the declaration of disaster zone will lead to more emergency funds.

Meanwhile, President Evo Morales on Monday flew over the badly- hit central department of Cochabamba, where a landslide buried several homes, killing 14 people, including seven minors.

The president pledged the government's full support for thousands of victims of recent heavy rains, including the materials needed to rebuild homes and infrastructure.

"I want the Bolivians who have been affected by the severe rains to rest assured and save their lives, because the government will be in those regions with its fullest support and all kinds of aid," said Morales.

Ordering the evacuation of several homes at risk of further landslides, the president assured "We are working with all the resources at our disposal. There is no lack of food. Yesterday (Sunday) food arrived and it will continue arriving."

Morales said army troops and civil defense forces would set to work building a camp for the homeless.

"The government and the armed forces are mobilized to meet the demands of the affected people," said Morales, stressing that the first task of the government was to save lives and the second was is to supply humanitarian aid.

Bolivia's Defense Minister Ruben Saavedra confirmed on Monday some 20 tons of humanitarian aid had already been shipped to several disaster-hit communities.

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