Newly formed tropical Storm NATE has killed at least 22 people in Central America as it pummeled the region with heavy rain while heading toward Mexico's Caribbean resorts and the US Gulf Coast.<br/><br/>Vice President of Nicaragua, Rosario Murillo said, at least 11 people died, seven others were reported missing and thousands had to evacuate homes because of flooding. The Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Nate could produce as much as 51 centimetres rain in some areas of Nicaragua. <br/><br/>Emergency officials in Costa Rica said, at least eight people were killed and another 17 missing, due to the lashing rain. Authorities have declared a state of emergency and closed schools and all other non-essential services. <br/><br/>Emergency services in Honduras said two youths drowned due to the sudden swell in a river. A man was killed in a mud slide and another person was missing in El Salvador, said the Emergency Services. NHC said, Nate will gain strength and become a category 1 hurricane before it makes landfall on the southern coast of the United States on Sunday.