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Mass exodus from Mexico flooding Exodus out of Mexico flood zone
(about 14 hours later)
Hundreds of thousands of people are fleeing severe flooding in the southern Mexican state of Tabasco. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled severe floods in the south Mexican state of Tabasco where rivers burst their banks after heavy rain.
The state capital, Villahermosa, has been largely abandoned after the Grijalva river burst its banks late Thursday, submerging much of the city. The centre of the state capital, Villahermosa, is under between 2m (6 feet) and 6m of water with only rooftops visible from the air.
President Felipe Calderon has ordered the entire air force to help bring supplies in and move people out. Some 300,000 are still trapped in their homes in Tabasco, waiting to be rescued by boat or helicopter.
Some 80% of the state is under water and 800,000 people are homeless in the state's worst flooding in 50 years. Overall, the floods have claimed at least five lives in southern Mexico.
Roads clogged Officially, one person has died in Tabasco due to the floods, and four people were killed in the neighbouring state of Chiapas, where several thousand homes have been affected.
Villahermosa, and many other towns in the state, have been turned into brown lakes with only treetops and roofs visible. President Felipe Calderon has ordered the entire air force to help bring supplies into the region and move people out.
Heavy rain is forecast for the weekend and there are concerns that disease could spread in the murky waters. 'Everything gone'
Emergency officials say that supplies of fresh water, food, fuel and medicine are running extremely low. Villahermosa is completely overwhelmed by murky, filthy water, the BBC's Andy Gallacher reports from the city.
In pictures: Mexico floodsIn pictures: Mexico floods
At least one death has been reported. Soldiers, first-aid workers and volunteers are scouring the streets in small boats, handing out fresh food and water, both of which are now in short supply.
Roads out of Villahermosa that are not flooded have been clogged with cars, buses and trucks full of people trying to leave the region. The Mexican government has admitted that the scale of this disaster has taken them by surprise and for those still trapped in the remote areas of Tabasco aid is still a long way off.
"Get us out of here," pleaded Josefina Vilchis as Villahermosa residents boarded buses to leave the city. As the massive operation continues, there are now fears that disease could spread and forecasters say more heavy rain is on the way.
"We've lost everything, and the lives of our grandchildren is all we are interested in. Please, there is no transport here - there is nothing," she told Reuters news agency. Many people left in Villahermosa seem resigned to spending another night on their rooftops while tens of thousands are crammed into emergency shelters struggling to provide enough hot meals and dry beds.
President Calderon has pledged the full support of his government to help more than a million people hit by the floods. One group spotted by a Reuters reporter on a roof held a banner reading: "There are children, pregnant women, sick women. Send the police."
He has given special powers to soldiers and police to maintain order and prevent looting and called on private airlines to help with the relief efforts as most roads in and out of the state have been cut off by the floodwaters. A woman rescued by helicopter from the roof of a school said those left behind included "pregnant women and children".
"They didn't want to leave their homes but there's now no other option - we've lost everything," she told Reuters.
Special powers
President Calderon has given special powers to soldiers and police to maintain order and prevent looting and called on private airlines to help with the relief efforts as most roads in and out of the state have been cut off by the floodwaters.
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".
Once the critical stage was over, he said, "we are going to reconstruct Tabasco whatever it takes". Tabasco state governor Andres Granier said the floods were a "monster" and urged anyone who owned a boat to help out.
'Fighting a monster'
On Friday, rescue workers used helicopters and boats to try to rescue thousands of people trapped on rooftops by the rising waters.
Hospital patients were flown to neighbouring states.
Interior Minister Francisco Ramirez said the extent of the disaster in the flood-prone state had taken the government by surprise.
Tabasco state governor, Andres Granier, said: "We are fighting against a monster" and urged anyone who owned a boat to help out.
He said 100% of the state's crops were lost.
Mr Granier 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".
Oil exports halted
The floods were triggered by storms that crippled Mexico's oil industry.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 accountsPeople 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.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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