CYCLONE KILLS 190 IN MEXICO

Press, Volume C, Issue 29672, 16 November 1961, Page 15

CYCLONE KILLS 190 IN MEXICO

Havoc In Pacific Coast Villages <N-Z Press Association— Copyright) j ACAPULCO (Mexico), November 15. . The death toll from cyclone “Tara” rose to 190 today and officials feared more deaths were still to be reported. The cyclone ravaged Pacific coast villages of Mexico at die week-end. The village of Nuxco—where 167 bodies were reported recovered—was virtually washed away by flood w’aters from a nearby lagoon, the Associated Press reported. More casualties were feared as floods swept the Pacific coast above Acapulco, a Mexican resort centre.

The village of Nuxco was destroyed by torrential rains and floods, officials said. Much of a 12-mile coastal area remained blacked out and only air drops and parachutists were able to get in supplies and medicines. Helicopters were rushed to the disaster area north-west

of Acapulco. The city itself was not damaged. Although the storm struck suddenly over the week-end, reports were delayed by destroyed communications. Four days later, details were still lacking, the Associated Press said. Much of the damage and

many of the fatalities resulted from flood following in the way of the storm that roared in from the Pacific. Five Army brigades were rushed to the storm area, along with officials of the Ministry of Health and volunteers from several towns. Damage to crops alone was estimated at several million dollars. Authorities said the villages of Nuxco, Tecpan, and Atoyac de Alvarez appeared to have suffered the heaviest damage.