The death toll from Mexico’s devastating rains climbed to 47 on Sunday as authorities rushed to rescue stranded residents, locate dozens of missing people, and clear widespread flood and landslide damage across multiple states.
Days of relentless rainfall have left a trail of destruction, sweeping away cars, homes, and roads, particularly in the country’s eastern and central regions.
President Claudia Sheinbaum visited several hard-hit areas and said the government would launch a census of affected families to ensure aid reaches those in need.
According to Mexico’s Civil Protection agency, 18 people died in the Gulf Coast state of Veracruz, 16 in Hidalgo, and 12 in Puebla, east of Mexico City. Another child was killed in a landslide in Querétaro. Officials said at least 38 people remain missing across three states, and the toll could rise as rescuers dig through villages buried under mud and debris.
Authorities have linked the deadly downpours to two tropical systems — Hurricane Pricilla and Tropical Storm Raymond — that formed off Mexico’s western coast before dissipating.
In Veracruz and Puebla, hundreds of soldiers, police, and firefighters were conducting rescue operations, distributing aid, and setting up emergency shelters offering food and medical care. Thousands of residents were still without electricity and clean water.
“There are still various communities in Veracruz that remain cut off, but today we were able to establish air bridges to deliver food, water and medical assistance,” Sheinbaum said during her visit to Veracruz. “We know there is a lot of desperation and worry — we’re going to reach everyone.”
Between October 6 and 9, parts of Veracruz recorded more than 21 inches (54 centimeters) of rain.
In Poza Rica, an oil-producing city about 275 kilometers northeast of Mexico City, residents waded through thick mud as Sheinbaum met them in flooded neighborhoods. Some areas saw water levels rise more than 12 feet when the Cazones River overflowed its banks on Friday.
