Three killed as waves lash Latin American coast

Panama City - Three people were killed, one was missing and hundreds had to leave their homes after strong waves lashed the Pacific coast of Latin American countries from Mexico to Chile.

In Panama, one person was swept away by strong waves that prompted an alert from authorities, while in Mexico a man drowned on the beach of Acapulco.

Waves over 4m high battered sea-side homes and flooded streets of the Mexican resort city.

The third death occurred in the Chilean city of Valparaiso where a European tourist was swept away and another person was injured.

Storms and wind

A 14-year-old boy was reported missing in El Salvador near the town of Playa Metalio. Numerous people had to be rescued and some 400 were evacuated as the strong waves damaged more than 50 homes across the country's coast.

Mexican authorities said that the sea swell was produced annually by large storms and winds offshore.

The swell will likely affect the Pacific coast for the next four days and sportsmen and fishermen had been advised to take extreme caution.