Flooding, landslides and collapsed buildings has been reported across Central America after a week of extremely heavy rain. Authorities say at least 84 people in El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Honduras have died. Nine others remain missing. Government leaders in El Salvador and Nicaragua declared natural disasters on Monday.
In El Salvador, at least 32 people have died. President Mauricio Funes ordered certain areas to be evacuated. "The temporary evacuation of the population in some parts of the country is meant to avoid casualties caused by mudslides," Funes said.
Guatemala reported 31 deaths. President Alvaro Colom said about 12,000 people have taken refuge in shelters while a total of 110,000 people have been affected by the rain. In Honduras, at least 13 people have died and another 13,000 have been affected. At least 8 people have died in Nicaragua, according to First Lady Rosario Murillo.
More rain is forecast to pound the area in the next two days.
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