OAXACA, Mexico — Using shovels to clean up what Hurricane Agatha left behind, many residents in the southern Mexican State of Oaxaca, worked through windy conditions.
Agatha made history as the strongest hurricane ever recorded to come ashore from the Pacific in May. It first hit Oaxaca on Monday as a Category 2 storm. Heavy rain triggered mudslides and caused rivers to swell and flooded multiple small towns.
Eleven people died and close to 20 people are reported to still be missing.
Some residents waded through knee-deep water to fish out crosses and other religious relics from their homes. Argeo Aquino of Resident of San Isidro del Palmar says his home and all his neighbors’ homes are totally flooded.
"We have to try to save all the good material because everything else is going to be washed away," Aquino said.
The deaths appeared to be concentrated in a few small towns in the mountains, just inland from the coast. It caused flooding and mudslides. Oaxaca Governor Alejando Murat said Tuesday night that rivers overflowed their banks and swept away people in homes, while other victims were buried under mud and rocks.
One Canadian family says they spent the day cleaning up their home Mazunte.
"It felt like a lot of work and stressful,” Tina Deuxfois said.
Deuxfois says their home nearly fell apart when the hurricane hit.
"It was very strong and very scary, and also we had to work the whole time to keep the house together,” Deuxfois said.
Hurricane Agatha brought wind speeds of 105 mph. Mainly southern Mexico was impacted.
San Diego travel agent Bobbie Findlay is telling her clients with trips booked to Cancun and Cabo they aren't affected. But in making calls for travel near Oaxaca, she says it has been difficult.
"You're going to be on hold for a long time. If you were traveling to Oaxaca, you can cancel ok, and doublecheck to make sure your flight hasn’t been cancelled altogether since this is such a busy travel time,” said Bobbie Findlay of Bobbie's Travel and Tours.
Many Oaxacan cities along the coast lost power and mudslides blocked a number of the state's highways. More rain expected to slam the region. Some families will spend the night sleeping shelter floors.
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