MANAGUA, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Days of heavy rains in Nicaragua have killed at least seven people who were dragged away by swollen rivers, and another four are missing, emergency services said on Thursday.

The torrential rains in the Central American nation, one of the poorest in the Americas, forced the evacuations of some 2,600 people, said civil defense head Mario Perez-Cassar.

The rains caused rivers to burst their banks and sodden hillsides to collapse, blocking roads in a country prone to deadly storms and flooding.

Forecasters warned the rains were likely to continue with thunderstorms and strong winds. (Reporting by Ivan Castro, editing by Patricia Zengerle)

AlertNet news is provided by