Mexico has been left reeling after back-to-back tropical storms Priscilla and Raymond triggered catastrophic floods and landslides between October 6 and 9, killing at least 44 people and leaving 27 others missing. Authorities say the disaster is among the worst natural calamities in the country’s recent history.
According to Mexico’s National Civil Protection Office, the hardest-hit region was Veracruz state, where 18 bodies have been recovered. Hidalgo reported 16 deaths, Puebla nine, and Querétaro one. Torrential rainfall overwhelmed communities, uprooted trees and power poles, and destroyed homes.
The Mexican Meteorological Service reported that Veracruz alone recorded 540 millimeters (21 inches) of rain in just three days, unleashing widespread flooding and landslides. The storms left behind scenes of devastation, with submerged neighborhoods, collapsed infrastructure, and vehicles swept away by floodwaters.
Rescue operations are being carried out jointly by the army and disaster response teams, who are working to reach isolated communities. Officials confirmed that in 55 towns nearly 16,000 homes have been destroyed, while more than 320,000 people remain without electricity.
President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that both state and federal governments have mobilized resources for nationwide rescue and relief operations, pledging that no affected community will be left without support. Emergency shelters have been set up, and aid distribution is underway, though access to remote areas remains difficult due to blocked roads and damaged bridges.
The storms have been described as one of the most severe natural disasters in Mexico’s recent memory, highlighting the country’s vulnerability to extreme weather events intensified by climate change. Experts warn that the scale of destruction will require months of recovery efforts, with rebuilding costs expected to be enormous.
Images from affected areas show families wading through waist-deep water, collapsed houses, and military personnel clearing debris to restore access. Humanitarian organizations have also begun coordinating relief supplies, including food, clean water, and medical aid, for displaced families.
As Mexico mourns the loss of dozens of lives, the government faces the dual challenge of rescue and long-term reconstruction, while communities brace for the possibility of further storms during the ongoing hurricane season.
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