- Title: MEXICO: Heavy rainfall kills three in Mexican state of Zacatecas, dozens injured
- Date: 19th July 2008
- Summary: (W1) TLALTENANGO, ZACATECAS, MEXICO (JULY 18, 2008) (REUTERS) DESTROYED VEHICLE CRAIN REMOVING DAMAGED CAR FROM STREET CIVIL PROTECTION MEMBERS CLEARING MUD VARIOUS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN WALKING IN MUDDY STREET MAN CLEANING MUD AND BRANCHES FROM CAR ENGINE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE CLEANING HOMES DAMAGED HOME VARIOUS OF MARGARITA HERNANDEZ WALKING IN MUDDY AND DAMAGED HOME (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) RESIDENT, MARGARITA HERNANDEZ, SAYING: "It knocked down walls over there and water rushed from the back of the house into the front through here. I was dragged some ten blocks and got these bruises." WOMAN TALKING ON PHONE PICK-UP WITH ITS BACK WHEELS LIFTED UP AND PERCHED ON A TREE PERSON SWEEPING MUD FROM FLOOR EXTERIOR OF DAMAGED HOME PEOPLE CLEANING HOME (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CIVIL PROTECTION WORKER FROM NEIGHBOURING STATE OF JALISCO, ROSALIO CHAVEZ, SAYING: "At this moment we continue cleaning up and supporting citizens so that they are able to rescue whatever they can from their homes. Some four to six districts were reported as damaged and some 2,000 homes have been affected. That is the preliminary report we have until now." DAMAGED CAR IN STREET TRACTOR CLEANING STREET CRUSHED CAR IN STREET OVERTURNED PICK-UP VEHICLE CLOSE TO VEHICLE MUDDY STREET
- Embargoed: 3rd August 2008 12:42
- Keywords:
- Location: Mexico
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
- Reuters ID: LVA5ASXYCKTL9FUNP0BFZ0WKPK01
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: At least three people are dead - including two children - and 23 people are missing, after heavy rainfall lashes Mexican state of Zacatecas.
At least three people were killed - including two children - and 23 people were missing after heavy rainfall and mudslides lashed Mexico's western state of Zacatecas, state civil protection officials said on Friday (July 18).
In the municipality of Tlaltenango, in the southern part of Zacatecas, heavy rain devastated some 2,000 houses and affected some 15,000 people after a river burst its banks and a mudslide cut off four towns.
A woman and two children died when they were dragged by river Jaloco.
Many people were left homeless.
Crushed and overturned vehicles could be seen strewn along muddy streets while residents and civil protection workers cleaned up homes and rescued any belongings they could find.
This Tlaltenango resident, Margarita Hernandez, was dragged ten blocks by strong currents. Her arms were heavily bruised.
"It knocked down walls over there and water rushed from the back of the house into the front here," she said. "I was dragged some ten blocks and got these bruises."
A pick-up truck was lifted from the ground and was perched against a tree.
A civil protection worker from the neighbouring state of Jalisco Rosalio Chavez spoke to Reuters:
"At this moment we continue cleaning up and supporting citizens so that they are able to rescue whatever they can from their homes. Some four to six districts were reported as damaged and some 2,000 homes have been affected. That is the preliminary report we have until now," Chavez said.
The federal government declared a state of emergency in Tlaltenango.
So far civil protection has reported 42 deaths during Mexico's rainy season which normally spreads from early June to late October.
Landslides triggered by heavy rains are common in Mexico, burying humble homes.
Weather officials said heavy rain during the annual rainy season has whipped large parts of Mexico for the last few days.
Some 130,000 people were affected by severe flooding in the northeastern state of Tamaulipas and thousands more in the neighbouring state of Veracruz after torrential rain in the centre of the country caused levels of the Panuco and Tamesi rivers to swell and overflow.
Heavy rain has also affected the states of San Luis Potosi, Tabasco and Hidalgo. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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