Tropical storms Agatha kills 150 in Central America

A sinkhole created by tropical storm Agatha covers a street intersection in downtown Guatemala City, 30 May 2010

Authorities in Central America say flooding and landslides from Tropical Storm Agatha have left more than 150 people dead, and more fatalities are feared as rescuers struggle to reach villages cut off by the weather.

In hardest-hit Guatemala, 123 people were reported killed with at least 90 others missing.  Thousands of people remained in emergency shelters.

Guatemalan authorities were also trying to cope with a giant sinkhole that opened up and swallowed an entire intersection as a result of the storm.  Agatha was the first tropical storm of the 2010 eastern Pacific hurricane season.

The rescue effort in Guatemala has also been complicated by last week's eruption of the Pacaya volcano, which coated parts of the capital, Guatemala City, with ash, forcing the closure of the international airport.

Meanwhile, the European Union has granted $3.6 million in emergency aid for victims of the tropical storm.

EU Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva said Monday that the bloc will continue to monitor the situation closely in case further needs arise.

In Honduras, at least 17 people were killed due to the storm, while in El Salvador, 10 people were killed and more than 8,700 people evacuated after nearly 200 landslides.

More rain was expected in Guatemala and El Salvador.

The intense rainfall has led to fears about the condition of the coffee crop in Guatemala, the region's biggest producer.

Tropical Storm Agatha pounded Central America and Mexico Saturday and Sunday after coming ashore near the Guatemala-Mexico border.

http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/americas/Rescue-Efforts-Continue-After-Floods-Landslides-Kill-150-in-Central-America-95316284.html