Authorities said four people were killed in the deluge after the heavy rain caused rivers to burst their banks in low-lying plains, about 560 kilometres (375 miles) south-west of the capital, Caracas.

In the Colombian Andes it is raining on average 200 times more than normal and we're receiving that water

Environment MinisterAna Elisa Osorio

The Venezuelan military has been deployed to deliver food, water and medicine in Apure state, where waters have inundated streets and buildings in Guasdualito, near the Colombian border.

At least 80,000 hectares (200,000 acres) of farmland was under water, the state news agency Venpres reported.

Three of the people who died were electrocuted trying to salvage their possessions, the army said, and authorities have shut off power supplies to several towns.

Homes abandoned

In Guasdualito, residents scrambled to save their belongings, loading farm animals, televisions and mattresses onto canoes and trucks.

"In the Colombian Andes it is raining on average 200 times more than normal and we're receiving that water," said Venezuelan Environment Minister Ana Elisa Osorio.

"In the case of Guasdualito the river keeps rising and the situation we see now is much worse," she told local radio.

About 800 people have been evacuated to schools, churches and other buildings for safety, officials said.

Military aircraft were airlifting people to nearby Barinas state and to the capital, Caracas.

Damaged roads and broken bridges were reported to be hampering rescue efforts.

In Amazonas state to the east, about 3,00 people had fled their homes to escape the rising water, government officials said.