At least eight people died and two were missing in Mexico after heavy rains turned a mountain stream into a torrent of muddy water that swept away villagers, authorities said Monday.
The bodies of some victims were reported to have been found several kilometers downstream from where they disappeared near Autlรกn, in the western state of Jalisco.
"So far, eight people have been reported dead and search efforts continue to locate two more people," the Jalisco Civil Protection Service said in a statement Monday night.
Juan Ignacio Arroyo Verรกstegui, a local civil protection official, told AFP that deforestation and a fire earlier this year caused significant damage to the forested area and could have contributed to the flash floods.
Dozens of first responders were deployed to the area to search for the missing, authorities said.
Mexico is periodically affected by floods and tropical storms.
Scientists say climate change is increasing the risk of heavy rain because warmer air holds more moisture.
