4 Missing, 15 Rescued in Sinking of Mexico Barge; Death Toll Now 5

Clinging to wreckage and wearing life jackets, 15 survivors from a barge that sank in hurricane-churned seas were pulled from waves off Mexico’s Gulf coast Tuesday.

“They are not well, but I have had no report of anything serious,” said Octavio Best, the chief of navigation at Ciudad del Carmen.

Wind-whipped waters poured down this city’s streets like fast-moving rivers Monday night, flooding hundreds of houses. Across the state of Campeche, tens of thousands were driven from their homes by Hurricane Roxanne’s surge.

The barge, battered by the hurricane, sank Sunday in the Bay of Campeche as it headed for offshore oil rigs with at least 245 people on board. At least 236 have been rescued, officials said.

Five were confirmed dead, including one U.S. citizen: James Vines, 47, of Winnsboro, La. Four remain missing--three Mexicans and one Spaniard, officials said.

Roxanne was downgraded to a tropical storm early Tuesday, the second downgrading on its erratic journey. It has twice roughed up the Gulf coast since striking Mexico last week.