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Dozens Dead as Twin Storms Strike Mexico

Stranded tourists salvaged belongings from submerged cars in the Mexican beach resort of Acapulco which had become a floodplain on Tuesday after some of the worst storm damage in decades killed more than 50 people across the country, Sept. 17, 2013.
Stranded tourists salvaged belongings from submerged cars in the Mexican beach resort of Acapulco which had become a floodplain on Tuesday after some of the worst storm damage in decades killed more than 50 people across the country, Sept. 17, 2013.
The death toll in Mexico has reached 47 after twin storms battered the west and east coasts at the same time.

Tropical Storm Manuel left as many as 40,000 tourists stranded in the Pacific coast resort of Acapulco. Normal access to the city has been cut off by landslides and flooded streets.

The Mexican army and commercial airlines joined to airlift tourists out of the city. Floodwaters in hotels and airport terminals are reported to be waist-high.

Officials say the storm caused nearly $400 million in damage.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Ingrid struck Mexico's Gulf Coast with high winds and torrential rains. Helicopters were used to carry residents to safety. The state-run oil company Pemex evacuated three oil platforms and halted drilling at some wells.

Forecasters have downgraded Manuel to a Tropical Depression. But they say they expect it to strengthen back into a tropical storm Wednesday as it moves back out to sea towards the Baja California peninsula.

Storms Batter Mexico

People swim in flood waters in Culiacan, Mexico, Sept. 19, 2013.
1/13 People swim in flood waters in Culiacan, Mexico, Sept. 19, 2013.
Tropical Storm Manuel struck the Pacific coast on Sunday while Hurricane Ingrid made landfall Monday on the northeastern Gulf coast.
A view of houses destroyed after a mudslide in the village of La Pintada, in the Mexican state of Guerrero, Sept. 19, 2013.
2/13 A view of houses destroyed after a mudslide in the village of La Pintada, in the Mexican state of Guerrero, Sept. 19, 2013.
Tropical Storm Manuel struck the Pacific coast on Sunday while Hurricane Ingrid made landfall Monday on the northeastern Gulf coast.
People move furniture through a flooded street in Tixtla, Mexico, Sept. 19, 2013.
3/13 People move furniture through a flooded street in Tixtla, Mexico, Sept. 19, 2013.
Tropical Storm Manuel struck the Pacific coast on Sunday while Hurricane Ingrid made landfall Monday on the northeastern Gulf coast.
People wade through waist-high water in a store's parking, looking for valuables, south of Acapulco, in Punta Diamante, Mexico, Sept. 18, 2013.
4/13 People wade through waist-high water in a store's parking, looking for valuables, south of Acapulco, in Punta Diamante, Mexico, Sept. 18, 2013.
Tropical Storm Manuel struck the Pacific coast on Sunday while Hurricane Ingrid made landfall Monday on the northeastern Gulf coast.
A man uses a makeshift zip line to cross a river after a bridge collapsed under the force of the rains caused by Tropical Storm Manuel near the town of Petaquillas, Mexico, Sept. 18, 2013.
5/13 A man uses a makeshift zip line to cross a river after a bridge collapsed under the force of the rains caused by Tropical Storm Manuel near the town of Petaquillas, Mexico, Sept. 18, 2013.
Tropical Storm Manuel struck the Pacific coast on Sunday while Hurricane Ingrid made landfall Monday on the northeastern Gulf coast.
Cars are parked in a flooded lot of the airport in Acapulco, Sept. 18, 2013.
6/13 Cars are parked in a flooded lot of the airport in Acapulco, Sept. 18, 2013.
Tropical Storm Manuel struck the Pacific coast on Sunday while Hurricane Ingrid made landfall Monday on the northeastern Gulf coast.
A woman carries a child while walking through a flooded neighborhood in Acapulco, Sept. 18, 2013. 
7/13 A woman carries a child while walking through a flooded neighborhood in Acapulco, Sept. 18, 2013. 
Tropical Storm Manuel struck the Pacific coast on Sunday while Hurricane Ingrid made landfall Monday on the northeastern Gulf coast.
People stand in a house flooded by mud after a mountain landslide in Altotonga in Veracruz state, along Mexico's Gulf coast, Sept. 16, 2013. 
8/13 People stand in a house flooded by mud after a mountain landslide in Altotonga in Veracruz state, along Mexico's Gulf coast, Sept. 16, 2013. 
Tropical Storm Manuel struck the Pacific coast on Sunday while Hurricane Ingrid made landfall Monday on the northeastern Gulf coast.
Soldiers search for survivors after a bus and two nearby houses were buried by a mountain landslide in Altotonga in Veracruz state, along Mexico's Gulf coast, Sept. 16, 2013.
9/13 Soldiers search for survivors after a bus and two nearby houses were buried by a mountain landslide in Altotonga in Veracruz state, along Mexico's Gulf coast, Sept. 16, 2013.
Tropical Storm Manuel struck the Pacific coast on Sunday while Hurricane Ingrid made landfall Monday on the northeastern Gulf coast.
A small chapel is engulfed in rock and mud from a landslide brought on by Tropical Storm Manuel's heavy rains on the outskirts of Acapulco, Mexico, Sept. 16, 2013.
10/13 A small chapel is engulfed in rock and mud from a landslide brought on by Tropical Storm Manuel's heavy rains on the outskirts of Acapulco, Mexico, Sept. 16, 2013.
Tropical Storm Manuel struck the Pacific coast on Sunday while Hurricane Ingrid made landfall Monday on the northeastern Gulf coast.
In this photo released by Mexico's presidential press office, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto meets with people affected by Tropical Storm Manuel in the Pacific coast city of Acapulco, Mexico, Sept. 16, 2013.
11/13 In this photo released by Mexico's presidential press office, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto meets with people affected by Tropical Storm Manuel in the Pacific coast city of Acapulco, Mexico, Sept. 16, 2013.
Tropical Storm Manuel struck the Pacific coast on Sunday while Hurricane Ingrid made landfall Monday on the northeastern Gulf coast.
People carry the belongings they were able to take after a landslide caused by heavy rains caused by Tropical Storm Manuel destroyed their homes in Chilpancingo, Guerrero state, Mexico, Sept. 16, 2013.
12/13 People carry the belongings they were able to take after a landslide caused by heavy rains caused by Tropical Storm Manuel destroyed their homes in Chilpancingo, Guerrero state, Mexico, Sept. 16, 2013.
Tropical Storm Manuel struck the Pacific coast on Sunday while Hurricane Ingrid made landfall Monday on the northeastern Gulf coast.
People look for bodies and salvage belongings after heavy rains triggered a landslide in a low income neighborhood in the city of Chilpancingo, Guerrero state, Mexico, Sept. 16, 2013.
13/13 People look for bodies and salvage belongings after heavy rains triggered a landslide in a low income neighborhood in the city of Chilpancingo, Guerrero state, Mexico, Sept. 16, 2013.
Tropical Storm Manuel struck the Pacific coast on Sunday while Hurricane Ingrid made landfall Monday on the northeastern Gulf coast.
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