Friday, 26 June, 2009

Date: October 6, 2008
Place: Algeria, North Africa

A baby has been found alive after spending four days in a pool of mud following flash floods that killed more than 40 in central Algeria.

The state-run APS news agency said the four-month-old baby appeared to be in good health and has been handed to a family while authorities look for its parents.

Yahia Fahim, town governor of Ghardaia, said: "It's a miracle, really a miracle to find it alive after all this time."

The governor said a photo of the child would be posted in local media in the hope that the family will recognise it.It was not clear from his comments whether the baby is a boy or a girl.

The reported rescue came as authorities confirmed at least 41 deaths in the floods caused by torrential rains this week in this usually arid part of the country.

In addition to 33 casualties already reported in and around Ghardaia, two more people drowned in the adjacent district of Ourghla.

Another four died further north in the town of Tebessa, about 370 miles east of Algiers, APS said.