MEXICO CITY – Torrential rains recently swept through Mexico, claiming at least 64 lives, with 65 people still missing, according to government reports released Monday. The deluge, fueled by a tropical depression, triggered landslides and flooding across the Gulf Coast and central regions.
The storm struck near the end of the rainy season, causing rivers already swollen from months of precipitation to overflow. Forecasters were primarily focused on tropical storms and hurricanes along the Pacific coast when the depression made landfall.
“This intense rain was not expected to be of such magnitude,” said President Claudia Sheinbaum during a press briefing.
Admiral Raymundo Morales, the Navy secretary, explained that the disaster resulted from the collision of warm and cold air fronts over saturated rivers and weakened mountains.
Approximately 100,000 homes have been affected, Sheinbaum noted. She plans to meet with the finance ministry to discuss reconstruction efforts and intends to visit the most severely impacted states.
Laura Velazquez, national coordinator of civil protection, reported that Hidalgo and Veracruz were hit hardest. Veracruz experienced 29 fatalities and 18 missing persons, while Hidalgo reported 21 deaths and 43 missing.
The storms also wreaked havoc on infrastructure, destroying bridges and leaving streets clogged with mud. Images from the aftermath showed emergency responders navigating deep waters to rescue stranded residents and deliver essential supplies.
Thousands of personnel have been deployed to aid evacuation, cleanup, and monitoring in the most devastated areas.
Electricity has been largely restored across affected towns in five states. Authorities are also working to prevent the spread of diseases like dengue, which thrive in stagnant water.