At least 23 people have died and thousands have been displaced as the Mexico flood continues to wreak havoc across large parts of the country, authorities said on Friday.
The civil defence agency reported that 31 of Mexico’s 32 states were affected by days of heavy rainfall, with the worst-hit areas including Hidalgo, Veracruz, Puebla, Querétaro, and San Luis Potosí. In Hidalgo alone, 16 people were confirmed dead and about 1,000 homes were damaged.
Laura Velázquez, the national coordinator for civil defence, said the Mexico flood had triggered landslides, overflowing rivers, and road collapses that cut off several communities. President Claudia Sheinbaum said officials were working urgently to restore electricity, reopen roads, and deliver relief materials.
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More than 5,000 military personnel have been deployed to support rescue and recovery efforts, while shelters have been set up for residents forced from their homes.
The Mexico flood comes during one of the wettest years on record, worsened by Tropical Storm Raymond, which is dumping more rain on the southern states of Chiapas, Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Michoacán. The U.S. National Hurricane Center warned the storm could reach Baja California over the weekend.