A SURVIVOR has told police that 72 people found dead at a ranch near the Mexican border with Texas were migrants kidnapped by an armed group, a federal official has said.

The sprawling remains of Hurricane Alex has drenched much of northern Mexico, paralysing the major city of Monterrey.

Hurricane Alex ripped off roofs, flooded streets and forced thousands of people to flee coastal fishing villages today as it pushed into northern Mexico after making landfall as a powerful Category 2 storm.

Filipino devotees have had themselves nailed to crosses to remember Jesus Christ’s suffering and death – an annual rite rejected by church leaders in the predominantly Roman Catholic country.

Hundreds of passengers were feared trapped and may have died after their ferry capsized in the Philippines during Typhoon Fengshen, said two survivors who struggled ashore today.

There are fears that the death toll from Typhoon Fengshen would leap dramatically today after reports that more than 700 people are missing after a ferry capsized.

Typhoon Fengshen lashed the Philippines for a second day today, leaving at least 80 people dead as it submerged entire communities and capsized a passenger ferry carrying more than 740 passengers and crew.

A CATHOLIC bishop urged Filipinos not to turn Holy Week into a “circus” with flagellation and crucifixion rites, while the health secretary said yesterday that those who join the rituals should get tetanus shots to avoid infection.

Thousands of people turned out in Seville to pay their final respects to Antonio Puerta, who died yesterday after collapsing on the pitch during last weekend’s Primera Liga match between Sevilla and Getafe.

ROBERT HEFFERNAN will be looking for the performance of a lifetime when he faces double European champion, Francisco Fernandez, in the 5,000m walk at the Irish Indoor Championships at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast tomorrow, with Gillian O’Sullivan also looking for something special.

A weakened Hurricane Emily triggered flooding outside Mexico’s third-largest city last night after demolishing homes, toppling trees and sparking thousands of evacuations on the northern Gulf Coast.

Thousands fled as the outer edge of Hurricane Emily lashed coastal areas around the Texas-Mexico border and its already powerful centre continued to strengthen just offshore.

The US pornography industry was in crisis today amid fears that an HIV epidemic could have spread among its stars.

FOUR goals from veteran striker Pawel Kryszalowicz powered an under-strength Poland to a 6-0 victory over Ireland’s World Cup qualifier opponents Faroe Islands in a friendly international in Spain on Saturday.