Mexico Finds More Bodies, Raising Toll From Storms

October 4, 2013

The Mexican government says searchers have found eight more bodies of victims from twin storms that struck the Pacific and Gulf coasts at the same time last month.

The Interior Department says the death toll now stands at 155.

Statistics of civil protection authorities sent to The Associated Press on Wednesday say that nearly 175,000 homes were affected by floods and landslides, mostly in the southern state of Guerrero.

The biggest known tragedy was a mudslide that swept into a remote mountain village in Guerrero and left dozens missing. Only some of their bodies have been recovered.

President Enrique Pena Nieto has ordered an investigation to find which officials gave permits for building homes in banned areas such as riverbeds, which put residents in danger during the storms.