One thousand people evacuated in Volcan, Argentina, two dead after mudslides

Heavy machinery and an electricity post is surrounded by mud after a landslide triggered by a storm in the village of Volcan, Argentina. Photo / AP

About 1000 people have been evacuated in the northern Argentine province of Jujuy after intense rains caused a mudslide that killed two women and injured at least five other people.

The town of Volcan and Tumbaya were the communities most heavily affected by the mudslide caused by a downpour on Tuesday.

Two stretches of Highway 9, one of the main roads through the region, were washed out.

Roads are covered in mud after a landslide triggered by a storm in the village of Volcan, Argentina. Photo / AP

The two women were found Tuesday inside a vehicle that had overturned and on Wednesday Red Cross authorities confirmed to EFE that five people were injured in assorted incidents in the area.

The landslide also affected the Dakar road race, which had to suspend its ninth phase and adjust its route because of poor weather conditions and the cutting of Highway 9.

A detour of some 200km had to be implemented for the majority of the vehicles in the competition.

The evacuated people "are being transported to five ... centres, two in San Salvador de Jujuy and three in Volcan," Argentine Red Cross communications director Natalia Gennero told EFE.

A flooded road is covered in mud after a landslide. Photo / AP

A detour of some 200km had to be implemented for the majority of the Dakar Rally vehicles. Photo / AP

Flooded roads are covered in mud. Photo / AP

Despite the fact that the weather situation has improved, it is not known when local residents will be allowed to return to their homes.

"Eighty per cent of the population of Volcan has between 50-80cm of mud in their homes," Gennero said.

Meanwhile, Gennero said that cleanup crews were working in the area and waiting for the homes to dry out and for machinery to be able to clear Highway 9.

On Tuesday, heavy flooding occurred in the region and the water reached 1.2m deep in the town of Tumbaya, the Red Cross said in a statement.

A flooded road is covered in mud after a landslide triggered by a storm in the village of Volcan, Argentina. Photo / AP