Severe flooding in southern Mexico by Denise Kane
Nearly half a million people have been made homeless across the southeastern state of Tabasco in Mexico. Torrential rain pounded the region giving rise to widespread flooding. An intense low pressure system was to blame for the heavy rain which has been falling for the past 5 days.
Several rivers burst their banks on Wednesday inundating homes with muddy water and washing away crops and roads. Much of Tabasco is low-lying land and is Mexico’s main banana and oil producing state. Vast areas of banana plantations are now under water.
Around 20,000 people were in shelters but nearly 150,000 people refused to evacuate their homes. More than 7000 people have been evacuated to shelters in the neighbouring state of Chiapas. Residents waded through the floodwaters to get to higher ground with many carrying pieces of furniture as they tried to save some of their belongings. Army officials desperately loaded sandbags along the city streets in Villahermosa to stop floodwaters spreading further.
Massive clean up operations are underway. The Mexican President, Felipe Calderon as flown to the affected state to assess the damage and promised aid and more rescue workers.
The worst of the heavy rain is now over and the weather is forecast to be mostly dry for the next few days.
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