Iquitos was placed under yellow alert on Wednesday, after increased water levels in the Amazon River.

Authorities said the alert was placed because the water level is predicted to continue rising, and the river could overflow into low areas nearby.

On Wednesday Engineer Marcos Paredes, regional head of Senamhi reported that, although the river had only risen four centimeters in the past two days, the growth rate remained high.

"Last week, the flow increased to three meters in 15 days, today it has only increased by few inches, but the upcoming rains will increase the volume, and we will inevitably have to give a red alert,” he said to Peru21.

Paredes said the Amazon River had increased due to heavy rainfall in the Huallaga, Ucayali, and Marañon river basins.

"The water in these rivers have recently reached the Amazon, but have already caused crop disasters in coastal areas," he said.

According to the National Civil Defense Institute heavy rainfall has affected 21 regions and 60 provinces between November 2011 and January 2012.

During this period there have been 7 deaths, 15 injuries, 145 houses have been destroyed, and 1,461 people have been left homeless.

The most affected regions have been Apurimac, Arequia, Tacna and San Martin.

According to Peru21, Civil Defense has already mobilized 32 tons of aid supplies to the areas.