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Mexico head pledges disaster aid | Mexico head pledges disaster aid |
(30 minutes later) | |
Mexican President Felipe Calderon has pledged the full support of his government to help more than a million people hit by floods in Tabasco state. | Mexican President Felipe Calderon has pledged the full support of his government to help more than a million people hit by floods in Tabasco state. |
In a visit to the state capital, Villahermosa, Mr Calderon said the entire air force was involved in shifting supplies to the region. | In a visit to the state capital, Villahermosa, Mr Calderon said the entire air force was involved in shifting supplies to the region. |
Rescue workers are trying to help thousands of people trapped in their homes by the floodwaters. | Rescue workers are trying to help thousands of people trapped in their homes by the floodwaters. |
Some 70% of the state is under water in the worst floods for 50 years. | Some 70% of the state is under water in the worst floods for 50 years. |
On Friday, the floodwaters were still rising and more rain was forecast for the weekend. | On Friday, the floodwaters were still rising and more rain was forecast for the weekend. |
Rescue workers are using helicopters and boats to move people stranded on rooftops or pockets of high land. | Rescue workers are using helicopters and boats to move people stranded on rooftops or pockets of high land. |
The state governor has urged anyone who owns a boat to help the rescue efforts, alongside army and navy crews. | The state governor has urged anyone who owns a boat to help the rescue efforts, alongside army and navy crews. |
High alert | High alert |
President Calderon called on private airlines to help with the relief efforts as all roads in and out of the state are cut off by the floodwaters. | President Calderon called on private airlines to help with the relief efforts as all roads in and out of the state are cut off by the floodwaters. |
In pictures: Mexico floods | |
After flying over the state, Mr Calderon described the flooding as "not just the worst natural catastrophe in the state's history but, I would venture to say, one of the worst in the country's recent history". | After flying over the state, Mr Calderon described the flooding as "not just the worst natural catastrophe in the state's history but, I would venture to say, one of the worst in the country's recent history". |
He said soldiers and federal police had been called out to prevent looting and urged residents of Tabasco to remain calm. | He said soldiers and federal police had been called out to prevent looting and urged residents of Tabasco to remain calm. |
Once the critical stage was over, he said, "we are going to reconstruct Tabasco whatever it takes". | Once the critical stage was over, he said, "we are going to reconstruct Tabasco whatever it takes". |
The floods were triggered by storms that crippled Mexico's oil industry. | The floods were triggered by storms that crippled Mexico's oil industry. |
High alert | High alert |
Earlier, state governor Andres Granier said the state was "devastated" with 100% of the crops lost. | Earlier, state governor Andres Granier said the state was "devastated" with 100% of the crops lost. |
He drew a comparison to the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina on the US Gulf Coast two years ago, saying: "New Orleans was small compared to this." | He drew a comparison to the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina on the US Gulf Coast two years ago, saying: "New Orleans was small compared to this." |
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. |
The state has been placed on high alert, with forecasters predicting that a new cold front could bring more rain over the weekend. | The state has been placed on high alert, with forecasters predicting that a new cold front could bring more rain over the weekend. |
A spokesman from Tabasco's ministry of health said there was a shortage of clean water and food. | A spokesman from Tabasco's ministry of health said there was a shortage of clean water and food. |
The spokesman, Dr Garcia Rochin, said "the situation is very, very difficult. | The spokesman, Dr Garcia Rochin, said "the situation is very, very difficult. |
"Our shelters are packed with people, and we are still running rescues in the flooded areas using helicopters and boats," he told the BBC. | "Our shelters are packed with people, and we are still running rescues in the flooded areas using helicopters and boats," he told the BBC. |
People are frantic, families are split up everyone is searching for someone. Mark Pius CharltonVillahermosa Your flood accounts | People are frantic, families are split up everyone is searching for someone. Mark Pius CharltonVillahermosa Your flood accounts |
Red Cross official Max Romero said 650 shelters had been set up on high ground in Tabasco and in neighbouring Campeche and Veracruz states. | Red Cross official Max Romero said 650 shelters had been set up on high ground in Tabasco and in neighbouring Campeche and Veracruz states. |
Flooding has also affected the southern state of Chiapas, where several thousand people have been moved to safety. | Flooding has also affected the southern state of Chiapas, where several thousand people have been moved to safety. |
Twenty-one people died last week when storms forced an oil platform into another rig in the Gulf of Mexico. | Twenty-one people died last week when storms forced an oil platform into another rig in the Gulf of Mexico. |
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. | 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. |
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. |