Bogotá, Colombia, November 3, 2007—Firefighters shovel ice to free cars trapped on one of Bogotá's main streets after a major unexpected hailstorm hit the capital city.

Hail created icy conditions amidst the heavy rains that have pounded northern and western Colombia in recent weeks, prompting a nationwide alert until late December, the news agency Prensa Latina reported.

An estimated 150,000 people have been affected by resulting floods, according to the agency. The government has allocated more than 16 million U.S. dollars to set up shelters for flood victims.

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