Floods In Venezuela Kill 37...12/16/99

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Torrential rains and mudslides killed at least 37 people in northern Venezuela, President Hugo Chavez said. The bad weather Wednesday forced electoral officials to postpone the closure of polls during a national referendum on a new constitution. Officials said many people drowned when the downpours created raging rivers in valleys and swept them away in Vargas state, about 20 miles north of the capital Caracas. Others were killed when mudslides buried their homes. The Civil Defense department said earlier the rains left 17 people dead, 10 missing and more than 10,500 homeless. Chavez offered the higher death toll while responding to early electoral results showing 71% of voters approved a constitution that was drafted by an assembly controlled by the president's supporters.