7 killed in landslide in central Mexico

MEXICO CITY, May 27 (Xinhua) -- At
least seven people were killed on the
Mexico-Queretaro highway in central
Mexico, after a landslide buried
several vehicles, the Federal Police
confirmed Monday.
The landslide occurred in Tepeji del
Rio municipality in the central state of
Hidalgo, due to strong rain and hail
on Sunday night.
Tons of soil and mud trapped at least five
vehicle which were passing the highway at the
moment of the landslide.
Those killed were three men and two women
who were in a taxi, as well as one woman and
one man in a red van.
Four other passengers of the red van were
injured and taken to San Jose hospital in
Naucalpan, state of Mexico.
People from Tepeji del Rio are trying to clean
their homes, as the storm had damaged 150
houses.
Mexico's Federal Highway Police, the Ministry
of Communications and Transporting, the Army
and rescue teams from the state of Mexico and
from Mexico City, were helping in the cleaning
work and removing disaster rubble.
"This is a very important highway not only for
Queretaro, but also it is one of the most
important in the country and we are giving all
the support," said Javier Oropeza from
Highway Committee of Queretaro state.
Traffic towards Mexico City is still closed until
the rubble is removed.