Heavy rainfall leaves more than 70 dead in Central America

Heavy rainfall leaves more than 70 dead in Central America

2011-10-18 09:07:21 GMT+7 (ICT)

GUATEMALA CITY (BNO NEWS) -- At least 74 people have been killed and tens of thousands more have been affected by heavy rainfall which continues across Central America, officials said on Monday. The death toll is expected to rise.

During the last week, torrential rains have caused landslides, flooding and collapsing structures in different regions of Central America. A total of 74 people have been confirmed killed in El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Guatemala.

Salvadorian Civil Protection chief Jorge Melendez said at least 27 people had been killed in El Salvador alone, including nine people who died in Arce City as a result of a landslide which buried them.

After one week of torrential rains, over 13,500 people have been evacuated from their homes, of which 209 are currently housed in temporary camps. However, Melendez said the number of victims is likely to continue to increase as the harsh weather persists.

Meanwhile, Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom has declared a State of Calamity, confirming that 28 people have died in the country after five consecutive days of heavy rainfall. In addition, almost 110,000 people have been affected including some 13,000 people who are staying at temporary camps.

In Honduras, President Porfirio Lobo was unable to return to the country after a visit to the Vatican. Officials said his aircraft was unable to land in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, forcing a landing in El Salvador.

Meanwhile, Honduran government official Lisandro Rosales said the number of deaths in the country has reached 12 as a result of the rainfall while more than 30,000 people have lost their homes.

In addition, at least seven people have died in Nicaragua where around 5,500 people have been affected, including some 1,200 people who have been evacuated. They are expected to remain in the 25 temporary camps which have been set up by officials until the weather improves.

Weather forecasts show that heavy rainfall is expected in the region until at least Tuesday.

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