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| Mexico flooding affects '700,000' | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The authorities in Mexico say as many as 700,000 people have been affected by heavy rains and severe flooding in the south-eastern state of Tabasco. | The authorities in Mexico say as many as 700,000 people have been affected by heavy rains and severe flooding in the south-eastern state of Tabasco. |
| The state's governor has called on anyone who owns a seafaring vessel to help free the 300,000 people believed to be trapped in their homes. | The state's governor has called on anyone who owns a seafaring vessel to help free the 300,000 people believed to be trapped in their homes. |
| "We have lost 100% of our crops and 70% of the state is under water," he said. | "We have lost 100% of our crops and 70% of the state is under water," he said. |
| Rescuers have also been using helicopters to try to reach people stranded on rooftops. | Rescuers have also been using helicopters to try to reach people stranded on rooftops. |
| The heavy rains began at the weekend, forcing rivers to burst their banks in the largely low-lying state. | The heavy rains began at the weekend, forcing rivers to burst their banks in the largely low-lying state. |
| The BBC's Andy Gallacher in Mexico says it is the humanitarian crisis that now concerns the Mexican authorities. | |
| "We are just like New Orleans," Tabasco governor Andres Granier said. "All the water that comes in has to be pumped out." | "We are just like New Orleans," Tabasco governor Andres Granier said. "All the water that comes in has to be pumped out." |
| Stranded | Stranded |
| Mexican President Felipe Calderon, who flew to the area on Wednesday, says the federal government would be sending aid to help the many thousands of people in Tabasco whose homes have been damaged. | |
| The state has been placed on high alert. | |
| In pictures: Tabasco floods | In pictures: Tabasco floods |
| So far, one person is known to have died in the floods. | So far, one person is known to have died in the floods. |
| Tabasco's capital, Villahermosa, and many other towns in the state have been turned into brown lakes with only treetops and roofs visible. | Tabasco's capital, Villahermosa, and many other towns in the state have been turned into brown lakes with only treetops and roofs visible. |
| Soldiers and rescuers desperately stacked sandbags along Villahermosa's streets. | Soldiers and rescuers desperately stacked sandbags along Villahermosa's streets. |
| Sandbags were also placed around several giant heads carved by the Olmecs, an ancient pre-Columbian people, at Tabasco's La Venta archaeological site. | Sandbags were also placed around several giant heads carved by the Olmecs, an ancient pre-Columbian people, at Tabasco's La Venta archaeological site. |
| The storms have forced the closure of three of Mexico's main oil ports, preventing almost all exports and halting a fifth of the country's oil production. | |
| Flooding has also affected the southern state of Chiapas, where several thousand people have been moved to safety, Mexico's El Universal newspaper reported. | Flooding has also affected the southern state of Chiapas, where several thousand people have been moved to safety, Mexico's El Universal newspaper reported. |
| Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the floods? What are conditions like at the moment? Send us your comments using the form below: | Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the floods? What are conditions like at the moment? Send us your comments using the form below: |
| You can send pictures and video to: | You can send pictures and video to: |
| yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. Click here to see terms and conditions | yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. Click here to see terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |