Torrential rains pounding central and eastern Mexico this week have killed at least 27 people and left several others missing, authorities said Friday, as floodwaters and landslides wreaked havoc across multiple states.
The heaviest damage was reported in Hidalgo, where 16 deaths occurred and more than 1,000 homes and hundreds of schools were damaged, according to the state’s civil protection agency.
In Puebla, Governor Alejandro Armenta confirmed nine fatalities linked to landslides and flooding, with five people still missing. Officials in Veracruz reported two additional deaths.
President Claudia Sheinbaum said federal and state authorities were working around the clock to rescue stranded residents, clear roads, and restore power to affected areas.
“We are working to support the population, open roads and restore electrical services,” she wrote on X, sharing photos of emergency crews wading through waist-deep water to deliver supplies.
In the city of Poza Rica, Veracruz, flooding from the overflowing Cazones River submerged entire neighborhoods. A video released by the Navy showed an officer moving through neck-deep water searching for trapped residents.
The Defense Ministry said more than 5,400 military and civil protection personnel had been deployed nationwide to monitor high-risk areas, assist in evacuations, and clear debris from roads and bridges.
Meteorologists said persistent rains have been intensified by Tropical Storms Raymond and Priscilla, which have been drenching the Baja California peninsula and Mexico’s western Pacific coast since midweek.
Authorities warned that the saturated ground and swollen rivers could lead to further flooding and landslides in the coming days, urging residents in low-lying and mountainous areas to remain alert.
Emergency teams continue to search for missing persons as recovery operations expand, with officials warning that the death toll could rise as access improves to remote and hard-hit regions.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
