Hurricane In Central America Kills 30 People

JAKARTA - As many as 30 people were killed and thousands were forced to flee their homes as heavy storms and rains continued to hit Central America, local officials said.

Heavy rains that continue to fall, flood rivers, destroy houses, trigger landslides and cut off access.

El Salvado authorities said the death toll now stands at 19, among them six children, while more than 3,000 people are still in temporary shelters.

"We have to save the lives of many people," Luis Amaya, who heads El Salvador's civil protection agency.

Material items come and go, but now we have to focus on protecting life.

Guatemalan authorities on Friday, reported 10 people were killed, nearly 11,000 people were evacuated. Nearly 380 people are still in temporary shelters, 300 people were badly damaged and four bridges destroyed.

Meanwhile, neighboring Honduras reported 1 death and more than 1,200 people were evacuated about 300 people in the past 24 hours. They said the rain had cut off electricity in 180 communities and destroyed 22 houses.

In Mexico, authorities predict heavy rains in most parts of the country and heavy rains in parts of the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, as well as areas further to the mainland, which will bring lightning, strong winds, possible hail, and flooding around rivers.

The storm caused authorities to evacuate about 80 people from a child hospital in the state of Oaxaca on Thursday.

But on the other hand, the heavy rain also brings additional supplies to reservoirs hit by drought across the country, which currently only have a third of its capacity.