A rescue by helicopter for these stranded residents in Nicaragua.br Torrential rains swept in from the Pacific last week over many parts of Central America, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake.br Here in Nicaragua, President Daniel Ortega has declared a state of emergency after at least 8 people died and more than were 130,000 affected by the floods.br There are similar scenes in Guatemala after the San Juan river burst its banks, hitting the town of Santa Rosa especially hard.br (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) RESIDENT AFFECTED BY FLOODS, MARLON ARANDA, SAYING:br "We lost everything. A car parked outside was dragged by the river current. My niece's home is badly flooded. We haven't been able to get the water out."br Thirty five people have been killed and thousands are staying in makeshift shelters around the country.br Meanwhile rescue teams in El Salvador try to reach flood victims in the Bajo Lempa area, after the country's largest river burst its banks, forcing thousands to evacuate.br This distraught elderly woman says she worries about everything.br Sometimes it is hard to accept God's will, she adds.br Honduras and Costa Rica have also been heavily affected by the wet weather.