Global General

Hundreds feared dead in Mexico landslide

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-09-28 22:52

MEXICO CITY - Some 300 homes were buried in western Mexico early Tuesday and hundreds of local residents may have been killed while they slept, officials and media reports in Mexico City say.

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Excelsior, a leading national newspaper, said the landslide was feared to have killed some 1,000 people in Santa Maria Tlahuitoltepec town of Oaxaca state.

Oaxaca Governor Ulises Ruiz said the landslide might have killed at least 500 to 600 people.

Continuous heavy rain loosened soil in the mountains around the town, four hours' drive from the capital of Oaxaca.

Local officials said rescue efforts were delayed by poor weather conditions.

Over the past week, heavy rain has been generated by a storm system in the Caribbean region, where Mexico lies.