Hundreds feared dead in Mexican landslide

Debris from fallen trees and damaged homes lies on the ground after flooding in the town of Oxolotan in the Tabasco region of Mexico.

Rain in the region also caused a hillside collapse thought to have killed hundreds in the town of Santa Maria de Tlahuitoltepec. Hundreds of homes were buried and local officials said rescuers were struggling to reach the area.

Oaxaca state governor Ulises Ruiz said the landslide followed days of rain.

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Rescuers were flying in from Mexico City and emergency personnel had been sent to the town, about 50 miles east of Oaxaca city. Donato Vargas, an official in Santa Maria de Tlahuitoltepec reached by a satellite telephone, said 500 people were missing and 300 homes were buried.

"We were all sleeping and all I heard was a loud noise and when I left the house I saw that the hill had fallen," he said.

He said he called the Mexican army and state officials for help.

"It has been difficult informing authorities because the road are very bad and there isn't a good signal for our phone," he said.

The federal Interior Department said rescue workers from the army, navy and federal police were being flown to the area with rescue dogs and heavy machinery.