Tropical Storm Nate Kills 22 in Central America

At least 22 people were killed Thursday after Tropical Storm Nate moved over Central America with clusters of heavy rain and gusty winds.

In Nicaragua, at least 15 were killed, including two women and a man working with the Health Ministry to provide aid were killed after being swept away by a flooded canal in Juigalpa, vice president and spokeswoman Rosario Murillo told the Associated Press.

The nation had already been dealing with two weeks of persistent rainfall before the storm, which left rivers at high levels and the soil saturated, the AP also said.

(MORE: Get the Latest Forecast for Nate | Gulf Coast Prepares)

Nate and the larger circulation it developed from produced heavy rain over Central America the last few days, according to weather.com meteorologist Chris Dolce. This rainfall led to flooding with additional floods and mudslides likely as the storm lifts northward toward Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula late this week.

In Costa Rica, at least 5,000 people have fled to emergency shelters, according to the AP. All public schools and offices will remain closed Friday, the Costa Rica Star reported.