Managua, May 28 (EFE).- Two people drowned trying to cross rain-swollen rivers in different sectors of the northern province of Matagalpa, Nicaraguan media said.

The media, which cited military sources, said that one of the fatalities was Freddy Antonio Chavarria, 28, who lost his life when the current of the El Quezon stream swept him away in the municipality of Dario.

The other victim of the storms that have battered the country in the past few days was Maria Lourdes Davila Martinez, 36, who drowned trying to cross the El Caño River in the municipality of El Tuma-La Dalia.

Soldiers are working to recover the bodies of the victims, the media accounts said.

More than 1,400 people have been evacuated to 12 shelters across the country due to the rains, Lt. Col. Jose Benito Perez told the press, identifying Leon, Chinandega, Managua and Esteli as the worst-affected provinces.

He said that the rains damaged houses in Esteli and that troops from the army's emergency unit evacuated by air 24 people who were incommunicado in San Francisco Libre, north of Managua.

Officials said 215 millimeters (8.46 inches) of rain fell on the city of Leon in a 24-hour period, while Chinandega received 187 mm (7.36 inches), and Jinotega, 155 mm (6 inches).