Five dead, nine missing in floods in western Mexico

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At least five people are dead and searches continue for others after a 5-foot wall of floodwater crashed through the streets of a town in western Mexico, state officials said Monday.

The interior secretary of Michoacan state told the Milenio television network that five bodies have been found so far. Pascual Sigala said emergency personnel were still working to find nine people reported as missing.

Earlier, a state official who was not authorized to be quoted by name said the dead include two children. Unusually heavy rainfall swelled the Cutio River and sent a wave of water into the town of Periban on Sunday.

Michoacan Gov. Silvano Aureoles said "searches are underway for the people who are still missing." Soldiers searched huge piles of debris left in the streets. The muddy surge was so strong it carried away vehicles and trees. Periban is located in a forested, mountain zone known for its avocado groves.

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