Hunt for survivors in hurricane-hit El Salvador

Emergency crews are desperately searching for survivors in El Salvador after Hurricane Ida swept across the country triggering floods and mudslides. Close to 130 people have been killed and dozens more remain unaccounted for.

Parts of the town of Verapaz were buried in mud. One man said: “It all came down on us. There was a truck parked over there and it was swept away. I could see how hight the water was when it took it. I was trapped inside the house. I couldn’t get out in any direction.”

Hurricane Ida has caused damage in other countries as it barrels across the region, but El Salvador has been hit hardest. In some places entire communities have been swept away by flashing flooding.

The torrential rain that has fallen relentlessly for three days in the mountainous terrain has been funnelled into low-lying areas with devastating consequences.

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tags: El Salvador, Flood