Sunday, May 30, 2010

Death toll from storm Agatha rises in Central America



There are fears that the tropical storm could worsen damage

A powerful tropical storm in Central America has claimed at least 73 lives in floods and mudslides, officials say.

The worst-hit country was Guatemala, where officials say at least 63 people died. Nine were killed in El Salvador and at least one in Honduras.

Storm Agatha swept in from the Pacific Ocean on Saturday, bringing torrential rains that added to disruption caused by a volcano erupting in Guatemala.

Heavy rains have continued, sparking fears of further destruction.

Man carries bottles through flood in Guatemala A state of emergency has been declared across all three countries

Rescue workers have been clearing debris from roads to reach cut-off communities.

Many areas have not been reached and the death toll is expected to rise.

Parts of Guatemala have received their highest rainfall in more than 60 years, according to the country's President Alvaro Colom, who said more than 3 feet (1m) of rain fell in some areas.

"Many places are cut off but it appears the weather will improve a bit today and we will be able to airlift supplies to those places. The road network is badly damaged," President Colom said at a news conference.

More than 70,000 people have been evacuated from their homes across Guatemala, according to Reuters news agency.

Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras have all declared emergencies in an attempt to increase immediate aid and resources.

Agatha - the first named storm of the Pacific hurricane season - also hit southern Mexico.

It is dissipating over the mountains of western Guatemala - but emergency workers have warned residents to expect heavy rain for several more days.

Devastation

A mudslide devastated an entire neighbourhood in the Guatemalan town of San Antonio Palopa, 90 miles (150km) southeast of the capital.

"There was a mudslide that wiped out homes, trees and everything in its path," an eyewiness told local radio.

In Quetzaltenango, 125 miles (200km) west of Guatemala city, a boulder became loose and crushed a house, killing four people, including two children.

In El Salvador, rains triggered at least 140 landslides in which President Maruricio Funes said nine people had died.

One man in the Honduran town of Santa Ana, near the capital Tegucigalpa, was crushed to death after a wall collapsed, officials said.

The storm has also complicated efforts to clear up ash from the Pacaya volcano in southern Guatemala, which began erupting on Thursday.

Guatemala's main airport has been closed while workers clear the runways.

A state of emergency declared because of the volcanic eruption has been extended across the country.

US officials have warned that this hurricane season could be one of the most active on record.

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