By Nancy Caouette
MEXICO CITY (AA) – At least 48 people have been killed in mudslides and flash floods after Hurricane Earl passed above eastern Mexico, authorities said on Tuesday.
Gov. Rafael Moreno Valle of Puebla state said the death toll increased from 32 to 35.
“It’s with a deep regret that I inform you that the number of dead has increased to 35, their families receive our support,” Moreno Valle said via Twitter.
The category 1 storm that hit Belize before it reached Mexico’s east coast Saturday, also killed 13 victims in Veracruz along the Gulf of Mexico.
Mountain communities of the two states are still searching for victims after a weekend of heavy rains that caused several mudslides.
In Huauchinango, a town in Puebla state, moving mud buried 13 homes.
Earl damaged at least 2,000 houses in both states and caused 15 small rivers in Veracruz to overflow their banks.
Veracruz Gov. Javier Duarte said his administration is monitoring the rivers that are above critical levels.
“More than 1,230 people are being treated in different shelters in the state, mainly in hilly areas and regions close to rivers,” he told journalists while visiting affected areas.
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Javier was downgraded to a tropical depression after it made landfall along the northwestern coast of Mexico on Tuesday afternoon.
The depression that from blows Baja California is now headed to Arizona.
“For the moment, Javier has not killed anyone and has not caused any important damage,” Baja California Gov. Carlos Mandoza, told the Televisa television station, but he said 3.5-meter (11 feet) waves and “really heavy rain” were experienced in the state.
