Tropical storm kills 83 in Central America
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala
Torrential rains that have pounded an area stretching from
southern Mexico nearly to Nicaragua eased somewhat, as rivers
continued to rise and word filtered out from isolated areas of more
deaths in landslides.
In Guatemala, 73 people were killed as rains unleashed lethal
landslides across the country, according to government disaster
relief spokesman David de Leon.
Tropical Storm Agatha made landfall near the nation's border
with Mexico with winds up to 45 mph (75 kph) on Saturday and was
dissipating rapidly Sunday over the mountains of western Guatemala.
In El Salvador, President Mauricio Funes warned that the danger
had not yet passed and reported nine deaths.
"Although the storm appears to be diminishing in intensity, the
situation across the country remains critical," Funes said.
In Honduras, one death was linked to the weather, and a fishing
boat was missing off the Pacific coast with eight aboard.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami warned that remnants
of the storm were expected to deliver 10 to 20 inches (25 to 50
centimeters) of rain over southeastern Mexico, Guatemala and parts
of El Salvador.
As of Sunday afternoon, 75,000 people in Guatemala had been
evacuated, many to shelters. At least 3,500 homes sustained major
damage.
Thirteen died in one landslide that tore through the community
of San Antonio Palopo on the steep banks of Lake Atitlan, a popular
tourist attraction 65 kilometers (40 miles) east of Guatemala City.
Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom said 4.3 inches (10.8
centimeters) of rain had fallen in Guatemala City's valley in one
12-hours period.
The rains unleashed chaos in the department of Quetzaltenango,
125 miles (200 kilometers) west of Guatemala City, where a boulder
loosened by rains crushed a house, killing four people including
two children. Four children were killed when rain-soaked earth gave
way in the town of Santa Catarina Pinula, about six miles (10
kilometers) outside the capital.
Cesar George of Guatemala's meteorological institute said the
coastal community of Champerico had received 11.8 inches (30
centimeters) of rain in 30 hours.
Rainfall from the Guatemalan interior also flooded rivers
coursing away from the storm toward the Atlantic. The Motagua River
flooded 19 communities near Guatemala's northeastern border with
Honduras.
In El Salvador, there were at least 140 landslides throughout
the country.
Civil defense officials said the Acelhuate River that passes
through the capital, San Salvador, had risen to dangerous levels
and was threatening to overflow into city streets.
Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras all declared emergencies
designed to increase immediate government aid and resources.
Guatemala City's La Aurora airport remained closed Sunday
because of heavy ash that fell from last week's eruptions of Pacaya
volcano. But volcanic activity had tapered off Sunday , allowing
helicopters and small planes to deliver aid to communities still
unreachable on washed out roads.
The Honduran national emergency agency Copeco reported one man
was crushed to death by a wall that collapsed in the town of Santa
Ana, near the capital of Tegucigalpa.
Flooding and slides destroyed 45 homes in the Honduras and
prompted authorities to evacuate 1,800 people, according to figures
released by the agency.
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