ACAPULCO (Reuters) – Two powerful storms pummeled Mexico as they converged from the Pacific and the Gulf yesterday, killing at least 41 people and forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands amid some of the worst flooding in decades.
Tropical Depression Ingrid battered Mexico’s northern Gulf coast, while the remnants of Tropical Storm Manuel lashed the Pacific coast, inundating the popular beach resort of Acapulco, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.
Even as they weakened, the storms continued to unleash massive rains that have killed more than three dozen people in the states of Veracruz, Guerrero, Puebla, Hidalgo, Michoacan and Oaxaca, national emergency services said.
In the popular Pacific resort of Acapulco alone, at least 21 people were killed as buildings collapsed and roads were transformed into raging rivers, said Constantino Gonzalez, an official with Guerrero state emergency services.
“Unfortunately, the majority of the deaths have occurred here in Acapulco due to landslides that completely buried homes,” said Gonzalez.
Officials said thousands of tourists were stranded due to cancelled flights and closed highways.
State oil monopoly Pemex said it had evacuated three oil platforms and halted drilling at some wells on land due to the storms. President Enrique Pena Nieto, who led Mexican
independence day celebrations in Mexico City yesterday, was set to inspect storm damage in Guerrero state.
