Mexico confirms 11 dead from Arlene and aftermath (AP)

MEXICO CITY – Mexican authorities have confirmed 11 deaths from Tropical Storm Arlene and the aftermath of floods, mudslides and overflowing rivers in central Mexico and Gulf Coast states.

State civil protection officials say five people in Hidalgo, two young children in Mexico state and a rescue worker and woman in Veracruz were killed. Most died after being buried alive in their homes by mudslides or drowning in heavy currents while trying to cross swollen streams.

The state officials confirmed the deaths Saturday. They are in addition to two people killed in Tamaulipas on Friday.

The Atlantic season's first tropical storm dumped heavy rains for two days since Thursday. Weather reports warned of moderate to heavy rains for the rest of the weekend.

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Six dead in Mexico in wake of Tropical Storm Arlene (AFP)

HIDALGO, Mexico (AFP) – At least six people were confirmed dead in Mexico after Tropical Storm Arlene drenched much of the country with heavy rains and left thousands homeless, officials said.

The first named storm of the Atlantic season barreled ashore along Mexico's Gulf coast on Thursday, dumping several centimeters (inches) of rain in areas still recovering from last year's wettest season on record.

Three people died in Hidalgo state, where swollen rivers burst their banks forcing more than 1,000 people to evacuate their homes, Civil Protection force director Miguel Garcia said.

Two people died in Tamaulipas state, including a bricklayer who was struck by a live electrical cable that snapped in strong winds.

Much of the country was subjected to the foul weather, including the capital Mexico City and its outskirts, where a child's death Friday was blamed on the storm, and the Pacific coast resort city of Acapulco.

Mexico's Weather Service said at least a dozen districts in central and northern Mexico were on alert for "intense and occasionally torrential" rains from the remnants of Arlene, whose winds weakened substantially after heading inland but still carried heavy moisture.

Some 278,000 people were left homeless or otherwise impacted by the storm, according to provisional tallies.

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