Heavy rains continued to hit Colombia, where two million people have been hit by severe flooding.

President Juan Manuel Santos said nearly 1m hectares (3,860 sq miles) of farmland were under water, describes the situation as a “great tragedy”. A team of U.S. Army engineers to advise on how to repair a collapsed canal Levee. Across the country, nearly 300 people died from floods and landslides in recent weeks.

“We are doing everything we can. Have confidence and faith, and a little patience,” President Santos appealed to Colombians,. He said authorities were focusing on saving lives and dealing with emergencies to ensure that people had food, shelter and health care. The government estimates that the floods that have affected parts of the country, caused damage of up to $ 5 billion (£ 3.2 billion).

Huge crane Dozens of roads have been blocked or damaged by floodwaters or landslides, according to Interior Ministry. More than 600 schools have also been damaged so that more than 300,000 students unable to attend classes. Colombia is facing a huge repair bill to deal with the flood aftermath Water continues to inundate towns and rural areas in northern Colombia where a Levee along the Dique Canal that connects Cartagena Bay with the Magdalena River burst in late November.

The Colombian army has been involved in efforts to try to connect the 200-wide (650ft) fracture. Officials said a giant crane will begin to work to try to move bags of sand into the hole. A team from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been asked to make recommendations on how best to repair the dam. Wednesday became President Santos in the town of La Victoria in western Colombia with Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa, who makes his first visit since the two countries agreed last month to restore diplomatic relations.