BOGOTA, Feb. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- The death toll has risen to at least 43 as more bodies were found following the week-long devastating floods in Colombia, authorities said Tuesday.

    In the worst-hit north-central department of Santander, four more bodies were found, bringing the death toll in the region to 37, government officials said.

    Floods have hit several places in Santander, specially Bucaramanga, capital of the department, and neighboring Giron, leaving another 40 missing.

    Homeless people are overcrowding shelters and have started to suffer from respiratory and skin problems, such as flu, fever and diarrhea, officials said.

    Mayor of Giron, Rafael Nunez, traveled Tuesday to Bogota to seek help from the national government.

    Food and used clothing have begun arriving for people in flooded areas, said state government spokesman Jorge Tarazona. He said aid workers are focused on bringing bottled water to some 1,500 families without water services.

    In 2004, Colombia suffered from two strong rainy seasons, the first in April-May, leaving 10 dead, 13 injured and 106,000 homeless. The second one occurred in November, affecting some 95,000 people in 21 departments.

    Colombian President Alvaro Uribe described the current flooding as "dramatic" and promised the interior, communications and other related ministries "the necessary resources to take care of the people." Enditem