- Title: MEXICO: Open floodgates swamp towns in northeastern Mexico
- Date: 9th July 2010
- Summary: MORE OF RESIDENTS IN SHELTER / GIRL SLEEPING CHILDREN IN SHELTER
- Embargoed: 24th July 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Mexico
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
- Reuters ID: LVA2EZPVQTU3BPHA141WEA3AI7UQ
- Story Text: Dealing with the aftermath wrought by Category 2 Hurricane Alex authorities in northern Mexico opened dams causing additional flooding throughout the area.
Alex left more than 120,000 victims in the states of Tamaulipas, Coahuila and Nuevo Leon, three border states, and some overflowing river dams had to be opened flooding various towns, especially the small city of Anahuac, in Nuevo Leon, located 70 kilometres (about 43 miles) from the border with Texas.
Thousands of people displaced by floodwaters remained in emergency shelters as the tropical depression lashed the border region with up to 10 inches (25 cm) of rain in some places and buffeted the area with strong winds.
"They say the water has risen above the railway bridge. Obviously you can't see my house anymore," said flood victim, Maria Luisa Mendez.
Rescue workers at a shelter in Nuevo Laredo, in the state of Tamaulipas organised games for children staying there and focused on providing blankets, mattresses, food and water for the flood victims.
A volunteer at the shelter, Ricardo Soto, said they were over capacity already.
"This shelter can hold up to 120 people but we've gone past that number. We now have 350 people staying here."
Tamaulipas governor, Eugenio Hernandez, said one person had died, without giving further details.
Meanwhile, a tropical depression churned over Mexico's border with Texas on Thursday (July 08), dumping heavy rains on the already badly flooded region, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.
The depression made landfall mid-morning near the Rio Grande river southeast of McAllen, Texas, but the NHC lifted a storm warning in place for the border region and forecast the system would blow itself out in the next 24 hours. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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