TS Agatha Strikes Guatemala, Kills 13

Agatha, the First Pacific Tropical Storm of 2010, Slams into Guatemala, Killing 13 People

TS Agatha struck Guatemala’s Pacific coast close to the Mexican border killing at least 13 people in Guatemala and El Salvador

Guatemalan government declared a state of emergency as torrential rain pummeled the Central American country, triggering mudslides that buried homes, cut off roads and threatened to destroy much of the nation’s coffee crop.

At least four people were killed when mudslide buried their home near Alomolonga, about 200 west of the capital, Guatemala City, according to government sources.

U.S. National Hurricane Center said the storm could dump about 50cm of rain over Guatemala, El Salvador and southeastern Mexico, and possibly as much as 65cm in some areas, leading to flash floods and mudslides.

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