This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/8349333.stm
The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 10 | Version 11 |
---|---|
Scores die in El Salvador floods | Scores die in El Salvador floods |
(about 1 hour later) | |
At least 124 people have been killed in El Salvador by flooding and landslides following days of heavy rain, the government says. | |
President Mauricio Funes has declared a national emergency, describing the damages as "incalculable". | |
The capital San Salvador and central San Vicente province were the hardest-hit regions, officials say. | |
Local reporter Juan Carlos Barahona says San Vicente is virtually cut off by landslides and collapsed bridges. | |
Mr Barahona, of the El Salvador daily La Prensa Grafica, told the BBC that the other worst affected areas were La Libertad, La Paz and Cuscatlan. | Mr Barahona, of the El Salvador daily La Prensa Grafica, told the BBC that the other worst affected areas were La Libertad, La Paz and Cuscatlan. |
The images that we have seen today are of a devastated country El Salvador's President Mauricio Funes class="" href="/2/hi/in_pictures/8349698.stm">In pictures: El Salvador floods | |
Interior Minister Humberto Centeno said 60 people were still missing, and about 7,000 more were in shelters. | |
In the town of San Vicente rescue workers pulled bodies from the wreckage of houses. | In the town of San Vicente rescue workers pulled bodies from the wreckage of houses. |
"We rescued a man this morning who had fractures, and a little girl," resident Cristian Aguilar told Reuters news agency. | "We rescued a man this morning who had fractures, and a little girl," resident Cristian Aguilar told Reuters news agency. |
"My son and I crossed through the floodwater and brought them here, and now she is with her parents." | "My son and I crossed through the floodwater and brought them here, and now she is with her parents." |
The rains also triggered massive rock slides from the Chichontepec volcano that buried a number of houses in the town of Verapaz, also in San Vicente province, officials said. | |
A local police officer told the Associated Press: "The weather continues to be bad, and we already have a river flowing through the village due to a landslide. We are worried things will get worse if the rains continue." | A local police officer told the Associated Press: "The weather continues to be bad, and we already have a river flowing through the village due to a landslide. We are worried things will get worse if the rains continue." |
Large parts of El Salvador are without electricity or clean water and remain cut off from government aid, the BBC's Latin American correspondent Will Grant reports. | |
He says that this is easily the biggest crisis the government of Mr Funes has had to face since coming to office five months ago. | |
News of the deaths came as Hurricane Ida, which has now strengthened to a category two storm, was poised to enter the Gulf of Mexico. | News of the deaths came as Hurricane Ida, which has now strengthened to a category two storm, was poised to enter the Gulf of Mexico. |
However, Ida, which passed to the east of El Salvador three days ago, is not thought to have directly caused the severe rains. | However, Ida, which passed to the east of El Salvador three days ago, is not thought to have directly caused the severe rains. |
The BBC's weather centre said El Salvador's rains were mainly caused by a separate low pressure system in the Pacific. | The BBC's weather centre said El Salvador's rains were mainly caused by a separate low pressure system in the Pacific. |
Are you in El Salvador? Have you been affected by the floods? Send us your stories using the form below. | Are you in El Salvador? Have you been affected by the floods? Send us your stories using the form below. |
You can also send us your pictures and videos of the flooding to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. | You can also send us your pictures and videos of the flooding to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |
At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |