By Friday at least 97 people had lost their lives in the floods and landslides unleashed on Mexico by tropical storm Manuel.

These were the scenes in Sinaloa state in the north-west as more heavy rain added to the misery.

(SOUNDBITE)(Spanish) GUADALUPE SALAZAR, LOCAL RESIDENT, SAYING:

"Nobody thought it would come down so strongly. For some time it seemed normal, there was wind and that sort of thing, but at night it was very strong. We all went to lie down - there was no electricity or anything - and when we got up the water was up to our waists."

This is what's left of a remote mountain village in the southern state of Guerrero after a landslide that killed at least 15 people on Thursday.

Many more are missing after homes were buried under the deluge of mud triggered by the storm.

The state governor says hopes are fading for those still unaccounted for.

(SOUNDBITE)(Spanish) ANGEL AGUIRRE, GUERRERO GOVERNOR, SAYING:

"Many people were b