At least 27 people have lost their lives, and several others remain missing following devastating floods in Mexico that triggered landslides and swept away homes, vehicles, and bridges, authorities confirmed.
Torrential rainfall between Thursday and Friday caused rivers to overflow, submerging entire communities.
The eastern state of Hidalgo was among the hardest hit, recording 16 fatalities.
Thousands of homes were either damaged or destroyed as torrents of water surged through streets, carrying cars in their path. Major highways were blocked by debris, and widespread power outages were reported across affected regions.
President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that the government has deployed 5,400 emergency personnel to assist residents, clear roads, and distribute relief materials.
She wrote on social media: “We are working to support the population, open roads and restore electrical service.”
In addition, around 3,300 naval officers have been mobilized to aid evacuation efforts and manage the cleanup operation in the wake of the flooding.
In Puebla, Governor Alejandro Armenta confirmed at least nine deaths and five people missing. According to state authorities, about 80,000 residents have been affected by the disaster.
Two more fatalities were also reported in Veracruz.
“No one was prepared for this,” said Jose Cervantes, a coffee shop owner in one of the flood-hit communities, in an interview with Reuters.
“The flood reached a height of one and a half meters. Everything was flooded, the dining room and the entire restaurant, the kitchen, the bathroom, the games room, the private area. Everything is in terrible condition.”
