(17 Oct 1998) Spanish/Nat
Hurricane Lester, which began as a tropical storm off the Central American coast has left six people dead and hundreds homeless in El Salvador.
Severe flooding after days of continual rain caused a series of landslides just outside of the capital San Salvador.
Roads in eight regions of the country were blocked off.
Hurricane Lester is now travelling northwards, parallel to Mexico's Pacific coastline.
In its aftermath it leaves at least six dead and many flooded villages in El Salvador.
The storm caught many by surprise.
In one incident, a husband, wife and five-year-old daughter died when their home was swept away in a torrent of mud as they slept.
When help eventually came - it was too late.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"We asked for help yesterday but it was difficult to pass - they came but it was very difficult and there were already many dead."
SUPER CAPTION: Neighbour
An estimated six people have been reported dead so far because of the tropical storm.
One relative of a mudslide victim blames the government for not doing more.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"I think the government should...there's a lot to do. They need to pay more attention to these type of zones where one truly sees poverty."
SUPER CAPTION: Graciano Santos Vazquez, brother of mudslide victim
But others claim emergency services are stretched to the limit and they are doing all they can under the circumstances.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"All the emergency services are on alert and working - the institutions, the ministries that are all part of the system - which are all there to help the population in whatever way they can."
SUPER CAPTION: Mauricio Ferrer, Director of Emergency Committee (COEN)
The process of laying the victims to rest is already underway.
An emergency has been declared in coastal regions of El Salvador.
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