El Salvador death toll rises to 19 as heavy rains continue
The death toll from torrential rains and landslides in El Salvador has risen to 19
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — The torrential rains hitting El Salvador caused the deaths of another six people on Friday when two girls and four adults were killed after being buried in their homes. Wall collapses and landslides on the outskirts of the capital brought a total of 19 dead.
Two weather systems — one along Guatemala’s Pacific coast and the other in the Gulf of Mexico that developed Tropical Storm Alberto — have brought saturating rains to southern Mexico and Central America.
The Civil Protection authorities of El Salvador issued a red alert and the country's Congress declared a state of national emergency for 15 days because of the severity of the rains.
The death of the two girls, ages 5 and 7, was confirmed by the country’s Rescue Commands and the Civil Protection, which alerted residents to the danger of landslides because of the accumulation of water that can cause walls to collapse.
