Torrential rains thave pounded an area stretching from southern Mexico nearly to Nicaragua.

In Guatemala, 73 people were killed as rains unleashed lethal landslides across the country, according to government disaster relief spokesman David de Leon.

Tropical Storm Agatha made landfall near the nation's border with Mexico with winds up to 75km per hour on Saturday and was dissipating rapidly Sunday over the mountains of western Guatemala.

In El Salvador, President Mauricio Funes reported nine deaths and warned that the danger had not yet passed.

In Honduras, one death was linked to the weather, and a fishing boat was missing off the Pacific coast with eight aboard.

The US National Hurricane Centr\e in Miami warned that remnants of the storm were expected to deliver 25 to 50cm of rain over southeastern Mexico, Guatemala and parts of El Salvador.

AP