Former Hurricane Barbara Officially No More After Hitting Mexico

Former Hurricane Barbara Officially No More After Hitting Mexico

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By: RTV/CBS

Posted: Fri 7:26 AM, May 31, 2013

•  The End of Hurricane Barbara

Hurricane Barbara hit Mexico's southern Pacific coast on Wednesday (May 30), flooding roads, toppling trees and killing two men as it pounded the area with heavy rain.

The U.S. National Hurricane Centre said the hurricane weakened to the east of the port of Salina Cruz in Oaxaca state.

Local emergency services said a 61-year-old U.S. man surfing off the beach at Salina Cruz had drowned during the storm. A 26-year-old Mexican man was killed as he tried to cross a river.

Troops patrolled the area offering support to the general population.

"The hurricane suddenly crept up and we didn't see more. They evacuated us," said flood victim, Maria Rodriguez.

In some fishing communities the sea level rose flooding homes and ruining domestic appliances.

Roads into some located on the border with the state of Chiapas, were blocked by fallen trees, light posts with electricity cables lying on ground with ensuing power outages reported in the area.

Another flood victim, Paula Jeronimo, said everything in her house got drenched.

"The roof blew off and water came into my house. Everything got wet."

In the Oaxacan municipality of San Pedro Tapanatepec, at least nine communicates were affected, according to Civil Protection authorities.

Five of these communities were evacuated with 1,000 staying at make-shift shelters in the area.

"We have five communities which were evacuated. We have an average of 1,000 people staying in shelters. We are patrolling the area, checking they are really staying in the shelters. Until now we don't have a report about victims. A few disappearances have been reported but they have not been confirmed," said Manuel Maza, Director of Emergency Services In Oaxaca.

Authorities in San Pedro Tapanatepec, said 200 homes were affected.

The NHC issued a hurricane warning from Oaxaca's Puerto Angel to Barra de Tonala, and a tropical storm warning from Barra de Tonala to Boca de Pijijiapan in Chiapas state.

Between 6 and 10 inches of rain is expected over eastern Oaxaca through western Chiapas, along with a storm surge of 3 to 5 feet above normal tide levels, the NHC said.