Storm death toll rises to 32 in Central America
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Xinhua, October 14, 2011
Nine more deaths were confirmed on Thursday during the latest wave of tropical storms and hurricanes in Central America, bringing the death toll to 32.
All the deaths were attributed to floods and landslides caused by the heavy rains, brought by Hurricanes Jova and Irwin that circulated off Mexico's Pacific coast, and the tropical depression 12-E that crossed through southern Mexico into Guatemala.
On Wednesday, the Mexican Interior Ministry declared 10 municipalities in the Pacific coast state of Colima under a "state of emergency."
The Mexican National Meteorological Service (SMN) warned that the heavy rains in the coastal areas of Jalisco and Colima state would continue, while two more storm systems were forming over Southern Mexico and in the Caribbean.
Guatemala was the worst-hit area, where the death toll had reached to 15, with four still missing.
According to Guatemala's Vice President Rafael Espada, 1,570 people had been evacuated from their previous homes and 931 had been transferred to temporary shelters.
In Nicaragua, the death toll had reached six.
National Disaster Prevention System official Guillermo Gonzalez said 5,466 people had been affected by the rains and 1,048 houses suffered various degrees of damage. Nine Nicaraguan provinces, including 33 municipalities and 144 towns, continued to be on red alert.
In El Salvador, the death toll reached three after one more person died in a landslide on Thursday. Schools in eight provinces including the capital district of San Salvador remained closed.
