Tropical Storm Lidia weakens after five deaths in Mexico

CABO SAN LUCAS ( Mexico): Tropical Storm Lidia weakened into a depression as it marched up Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula after flooding streets and homes in resort cities, stranding tourists and leaving at least five people dead.

Lidia’s maximum sustained winds dropped to 55kph late Saturday as its centre passed over a sparsely populated area of the peninsula that is home to a large nature reserve and back out over Pacific waters.

Authorities have said the death toll could rise over the weekend as emergency crews surveyed the damage in villages with ramshackle homes.

One person was considered missing and video broadcast on local networks showed vehicles being swept away by flooded rivers.

Baja California Sur Gov Carlos Mendoza reported that Lidia had dumped about 700mm of rain, “the largest amount of water we have had since 1933”.

The dead included two people electrocuted by power lines, a woman drowned after being swept away by water on a flooded street and a baby was ripped from its mother’s arms as she crossed a flooded area.

Mendoza said on Friday that there was a fifth victim but did not give details.

State Tourism Secretary Luis Genaro Ruiz said about 20,000 foreign tourists were stranded after airlines suspended flights to the area. About 1,400 people had sought refuge at storm shelters as the storm flooded streets and stranded tourists.

The US National Hurricane Center said Lidia made landfall early on Friday west of La Paz, the capital of Baja California Sur state.

The storm was centered about 150km north-northwest of Punta Eugenia on Saturday night and was heading northwest at about 17kph.

Earlier, Lidia spread rains over a broad swathe of Mexico, including the capital. — AP