MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – At least eight people were killed and another three were injured after a river in the Mexican state of Jalisco burst its banks following unusually heavy rains, another extreme weather event as climate change helps whip up ever deadlier storms.
The “atypical” rains completely destroyed four houses and another 50 homes were being evaluated for damages, Gustavo Robles, who heads the municipality of Autlan de Navarro, said at a press conference on Monday.
Local authorities, who are working with the federal government to declare a state of emergency, received reports the river was flooding the area at around 7:20 a.m. and over 100 security agents have been participating in rescue efforts, he said.
With climate change rainfall can increase or become more erratic, as a warmer atmosphere can hold more water vapor – allowing more moisture to build up before clouds finally break.
Elsewhere in the region, Guatemalan authorities said on Monday that at least six people were killed after a river burst its banks in the midst of heavy rains that poured over the Central American country on Sunday.
Before the Sunday rains, at least 29 people had been killed due to flooding in Guatemala this rainy season, data from its national disaster agency Conred shows.
(Reporting by Valentine Hilaire; Editing by Michael Perry)
