LA PAZ, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Severe flooding has left seven people dead, some 20 others missing and hundreds of families displaced in eastern Bolivia, said authorities Sunday.

Heavy rains starting Friday night caused the Pirai River in the department of Santa Cruz to overflow, sparking floods in surrounding towns, including El Torno, one of the hardest hit.

Deputy Minister of Civil Defense Alfredo Troche warned that the number of victims could increase as authorities assessed the damage.

Given the severity of the flooding, Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz established a crisis center at the Government Palace under his direct coordination. ■