Heavy Rains in Mexico Result in 23 Fatalities and Widespread Damage

Severe rainfall across Mexico has resulted in 23 fatalities and extensive property damage, according to civil defense authorities. The heavy rains affected 31 of the country's 32 states, with Veracruz, Queretaro, Hidalgo, and San Luis Potosi being the most impacted.

In Hidalgo state, 16 people lost their lives, and approximately 1,000 homes were damaged. Puebla state reported five fatalities, with 11 individuals still unaccounted for. Additional deaths included a child in Veracruz and a police officer in Queretaro.

Laura Velázquez, the national coordinator for civil defense, reported incidents of landslides, overflowing rivers, and road collapses in the affected regions. President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that officials are "working to support the population, reopen roads, and get the power back on."

The military has deployed over 5,400 troops, along with rescue equipment and vehicles, to assist in distributing aid to flooded areas. Shelters have been established for those displaced from their homes.

This year, Mexico has experienced particularly heavy rains, setting a rainfall record in the capital, Mexico City. Tropical Storm Raymond, currently off the Pacific coast, is contributing to the heavy rains as it moves northward. The storm has already caused damage in Chiapas, Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Michoacan states and is expected to reach the southern part of Baja California over the weekend, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.