Miguel Angel Villegas Escobar reported that more than a dozen individuals lost their lives in his area, isolated from the rest of Hidalgo state in Mexico due to heavy rains causing bridges and roads to collapse. Villegas Escobar, serving as the regional director of primary education in Chahuaco village, disclosed via WhatsApp voice messages that entire families were swept away by extensive flooding resulting from four days of continuous rainfall across five Gulf Coast and central states last week.
He mentioned that 15 people residing in Tianguistengo municipality, including various villages like Chahuaco, fell victim to the floods and were buried under mud. Additionally, two individuals are still missing from the neighboring Tlacolula village, part of Tianguistengo, which bore the brunt of the calamity. Villegas Escobar detailed the severe impact on Tlacolula, with most houses destroyed, as relayed in his messages from Chahuaco, located approximately 250 kilometers northwest of Mexico City.
Residents of Chahuaco mobilized aid by using traditional trails and pack animals to reach Tlacolula and support the affected populace. The devastation caused by the storms resulted in 64 fatalities and 65 missing persons, as confirmed by Mexican authorities during a press briefing on Monday. The heavy downpour between October 6 and 9 led to overflowing rivers, power outages, landslides, and road washouts across Veracruz, Hidalgo, Puebla, Querétaro, and San Luis Potosi states.
Laura Velázquez, the national coordinator for the federal civil protection agency, highlighted the collaborative efforts of the federal, state, and municipal governments in assisting affected communities. Veracruz, Hidalgo, and Puebla faced the worst impact, with 56 casualties and over 100 affected localities, based on official reports. Images shared on social media depicted streets transformed into mud-carrying rivers, individuals seeking refuge on rooftops, and roads destroyed by landslides.
President Claudia Sheinbaum and the governors of the most affected states have come under criticism for the perceived delayed response and lack of timely alerts or evacuations. Sheinbaum acknowledged the devastation, with preliminary data indicating over 100,000 homes damaged or destroyed by the relentless rains. Helicopters were deployed to provide assistance to around 60 isolated communities in Veracruz, Hidalgo, and Puebla due to impassable roads.
Authorities were monitoring tropical cyclones in the Pacific coast region but were caught off guard by the intensity of the unexpected rains. The convergence of a low-pressure system from the Gulf of Mexico and a cold front from Texas exacerbated the situation, leading to the widespread flooding. Sheinbaum emphasized the unforeseeable nature of the excessive rainfall, highlighting the critical status of Tianguistengo municipality.
Military helicopters have initiated infrastructure restoration works, focusing on rebuilding roads and bridges in the affected regions. Villegas Escobar appealed to Hidalgo Governor Julio Ramón Menchaca Salazar, local legislators, and senators to extend aid to Tlacolula village, showcasing the severe damage inflicted on the primary school. The urgent need for assistance in Tlacolula was emphasized in the video shared by Villegas Escobar, depicting a scene reminiscent of a disaster aftermath.
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