Kuwait Times

Published Date: February 07, 2010

MORELIA: Eight people died Friday in western Mexico, bringing the death toll from freak winter rains this week to at least 17, including seven children, state authorities said.

Rescue workers struggled to retrieve bodies buried inside their homes after a landslide near the town of Ocampo, where six died Friday, said Michoacan State Attorney General Jesus Montejano. Two others died Friday in the neighboring town of Angangueo, also after landslides crushed their fragile homes, officials said. The federal government declared a state of emergency in the area of western Mexico famous for its sanctuary of Monarch butterflies.

The Mexican army was summoned to help with rescue efforts, and officials warned that more bodies could be recovered. The weather improved on Friday. More than half of the country, particularly central and western areas, were affected by unexpected rains in recent days, which occurred several months ahead of the start of the usual rainy season. The heavily-populated capital Mexico City on Thursday activated emergency measures after the temporary collapse of its drainage system and the overflow of a sewage
canal.-AFP