Video: Storm kills 17 in Central Amirica
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| Rescuers help resident evacuating in Izabal City, capital of Izabal Province, Guatemala, May 30, 2010. The death toll caused by storm Agatha in Guatemala has risen to 73, the country's disaster relief authority spokesman David de Leon said on Sunday. (Xinhua) |
GUATEMALA CITY, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The death toll caused by storm Agatha in Guatemala has risen to 73, the country's disaster relief authority spokesman David de Leon said on Sunday.
Rescuers reported deaths in several provinces, including 13 people who were killed in the town of San Andres Palopo when a landslide buried 13 houses. Seven others were missing, officials said.
The Volunteer Firemen said there were five deaths and eight others missing in northern Guatemala City, where a landslide crushed houses on Saturday night. More deaths were feared.
Agatha, the first named storm of the current Pacific hurricane season, brought heavy rains and landslides in Guatemala and affected El Salvador and Honduras, prompting all three countries to declare emergencies.
Deaths were also reported in El Salvador and Honduras.
Agatha made landfall in Guatemala with winds of about 70 km per hour on Saturday before quickly weakening to become a tropical depression.
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