The country continues to be affected by torrential rains and flooding in the northern coastal departments of Tumbes, Piura, Lambayeque, Cajamarca and La Libertad, and in the inland department of Cusco and coastal Lima, where landslides and flooding are reported. Severe damage to housing and infrastructure is reported, particularly to roads, leaving several cities and villages in an isolated state. The number of casualties and injuries continues to increase. Severe damage to cash and food crops is equally reported, but a detailed assessment of damage incurred to the agricultural sector has not yet been made because of difficulties encountered in accessing many affected locations. Relief operations to assist the affected population are being implemented by the Government as well as measures to help mitigate the impact of the phenomenon, such as reinforcements of riverbeds and reconstruction of dikes. Harvesting of the 1998 cereal crops has started and output for every cereal is tentatively forecast to decline from 1997 high levels. The extent of the reduction will largely depend upon the intensity and duration of the rains.