Powerful South American storm causes death, damage

A powerful storm killed five people and injured 81 in Paraguay as it blew across the southern cone of South America on Wednesday, ripping the roofs off of ramshackle homes and leaving thousands of people without shelter.

With winds gusting to near hurricane strength and heavy rains, the storm system raked across Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay, downing power lines, causing rivers to overflow their banks and flooding coastal areas. Uruguay's government closed shopping malls and shut down its ports as a precaution, suspending ferry service between Montevideo and Buenos Aires. (AP)