Heavy rain brings severe floods to southeast Mexico by Philip Avery
Torrential rain has battered parts of southern Mexico over the past two weeks, leading to extensive flooding and mudslides.
The Mexican federal government has declared a state of emergency for many parts, with the south-eastern states of Tabasco and Veracruz being the worst affected regions.
In Veracruz, more than 30 rain-swollen rivers have burst their banks, and at least 30,000 people have had to be evacuated to higher ground. The rains have also caused serious damage to highways, bridges and farmlands.
The very wet weather has been a result of a series of low pressure systems that have been forming in the western Atlantic and sweeping west across the country.
Mexico’s wet season is during the summer months of May until October, so should be drawing to a close around this time of year. However, the country is not out of the water yet – the National Meteorological Service is forecasting further downpours for Tabasco and Veracruz over the next four days.
