40 people killed as Tropical Storm “Earl” triggers severe flash floods and mudslides in Mexico

Tropical Storm "Earl" accompanied by intense rainfall caused flash floods and mudslides in mountainous regions of Mexico during the weekend of August 6, 2016. At least 40 people were killed, and the damage from the storm affected at least 200 people, according to media reports.

Multiple landslides in the north of the Puebla state caused 28 deaths, 25 of which across the Huauchinango and 3 in Tlaola, according to Luis Felipe Puente, the National Civil Protection Coordinator. 11 other people have been reported dead in the Coscomatepec, Tequila, and Huayacocotla in Veracruz, according to the Governor Javier Duarte.

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Severe weather conditions caused traffic disruptions and a closure of the main federal highway, connecting Mexico City with the wider area. Numerous regions have recorded a usual month's worth of rainfall in only 24 hours, Federal transportation authorities reported.

Tropical Storm "Earl" continued its journey over portions of Mexico after making landfall over Belize on August 4. The system formed on August 2, near Jamaica, and briefly strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane on August 3. It made its second landfall on the coast of Veracruz state in the late hours of August 5 (local time).

Earl was forecast to produce total rainfall accumulations between 203.2 and 304.8 mm (8 and 12 inches) over portions of Chiapas, Oaxaca, Puebla, Tabasco, and Veracruz through the morning of August 6. Locally isolated amounts of 457.2 mm (18 inches) were predicted, as well. Adequate Tropical Storm Warning has been put in effect to announce Intense rainstorms and possible life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.

Featured image credit: France 24