Torrential rainfall across central and southeastern Mexico has caused widespread flooding and landslides, resulting in the deaths of at least 41 people and forcing a large-scale emergency response. The severe weather, which began in early October, has damaged tens of thousands of homes, washed out roads and bridges, and left numerous communities isolated as rivers overflowed their banks.
The federal government has deployed thousands of military personnel to assist in rescue and clearing operations as the scale of the disaster became clear. The country’s security and civil protection authorities report that 117 municipalities across five states have been heavily impacted by the natural disaster, with search efforts continuing for 27 missing people. The relentless rain triggered dozens of landslides, burying homes and cutting off access to remote areas, complicating the relief efforts now underway.
Widespread Devastation Across Several States
The impact of the disaster has been felt across a wide swath of the country, with several states reporting fatalities and extensive damage. The central state of Hidalgo was one of the hardest-hit regions, with authorities reporting at least 16 fatalities. Some reports indicated the death toll in Hidalgo could be as high as 22. In addition to the loss of life, hundreds of communities in the state were left without power.
In the eastern state of Veracruz, which experienced some of the most intense rainfall, official reports confirmed 15 deaths. The Mexican navy was dispatched to help rescue residents from more than 40 communities that were left completely isolated by the floodwaters. The state of Puebla, east of Mexico City, recorded nine deaths. The extreme weather affected around 80,000 people in Puebla alone, where more than 16,000 homes were reported as damaged or destroyed. One fatality was also confirmed in the state of Queretaro.
An Overwhelming Natural Force
The primary cause of the catastrophe was an extreme amount of rainfall over a short period. In the state of Veracruz, monitoring stations recorded 540 millimeters (more than 21 inches) of rain between October 6 and 9. This volume of water quickly overwhelmed local infrastructure and natural drainage systems. Some reports have attributed the severe weather to Tropical Storms Priscilla and Raymond.
In the oil town of Poza Rica, Veracruz, residents had little warning before a wall of water from the overflowing Cazones River inundated their neighborhoods. The floodwaters rose to more than 12 feet in some areas, sweeping away vehicles and crashing them into trees and buildings. The destruction left behind was immense, with cars found wedged in treetops and homes filled with mud and debris after the water receded.
The Human Toll of the Disaster
Beyond the statistics of damaged homes and infrastructure, the floods have inflicted a deep personal toll on residents who lost family members and livelihoods. In Poza Rica, one resident discovered the body of his uncle who had drowned inside his home, unable to escape the rapidly rising water. Many of the deceased across the region were caught in sudden landslides that buried their homes.
The disaster has also created unusual public safety challenges. In one municipality in Puebla, a tiger escaped from a private zoo after its enclosure flooded. Authorities were later able to successfully track and capture the animal. Across the affected states, daily life has been brought to a standstill, with schools and hospitals also sustaining significant damage from the floodwaters.
Massive Government Response Underway
In response to the crisis, the Mexican government has initiated a significant emergency operation. President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed that at least 6,700 soldiers have been deployed to assist with relief efforts, clear roads, and reach stranded communities. “We are not leaving anyone behind; we are taking care of families who have lost a loved one,” Sheinbaum stated in a public message.
The national response includes thousands of troops and the deployment of boats, planes, and helicopters to assist in the rescue missions. Authorities are working to restore power to more than 320,000 people affected by outages caused by the storms. In total, officials say at least 34,000 houses have been damaged by the floods and landslides, underscoring the long recovery period that lies ahead for the region.
