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Mexico head pledges disaster aid Mexico head pledges disaster aid
(1 day 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. Mr Calderon said on a visit to Tabasco that the entire air force was involved in shifting supplies to the region where more than 800,000 are homeless.
Rescue workers are trying to help thousands of people trapped in their homes by the floodwaters. Some 80% of the state is under water in the worst flooding for 50 years.
Some 70% of the state is under water in the worst floods for 50 years. Heavy rain is forecast for the weekend and there are concerns that disease could spread in the murky waters.
On Friday, the floodwaters were still rising and more rain was forecast for the weekend. Rescue workers are trying to help thousands of people trapped in their homes by the floodwaters. At least one death has been reported.
Rescue workers are using helicopters and boats to move people stranded on rooftops or pockets of high land. Helicopters and boats are being used to move people stranded on rooftops or pockets of high land, and hospital patients are being flown to neighbouring states.
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 out.
High alert President Calderon has given special powers to soldiers and police on the ground to maintain order and prevent looting.
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. Crops lost
He 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 floodsIn 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.
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. Tabasco governor Andres Granier said that 100% of the crops had been lost.
High alert 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".
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."
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. Villahermosa government secretary Humberto Mayans said that more than 100,000 people on the streets had turned the city "into a huge open-air shelter".
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. "Our shelters are packed with people, and we are still running rescues in the flooded areas using helicopters and boats," Dr Garcia Rochin 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
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. Oil jam
The floods were triggered by storms that crippled Mexico's oil industry.
People are frantic, families are split up everyone is searching for someone. Mark Pius CharltonVillahermosa Your flood accounts
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.
Flooding has also affected the southern state of Chiapas, where several thousand people have been moved to safety.
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.
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