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| Many homeless after Mexico floods | Many homeless after Mexico floods |
| (about 23 hours later) | |
| As many as half a million people have seen their homes damaged or destroyed by massive floods in southern Mexico, authorities say. | As many as half a million people have seen their homes damaged or destroyed by massive floods in southern Mexico, authorities say. |
| The military has helped to evacuate thousands of people in the states of Tabasco and Chiapas. Overall the floods have claimed at least five lives. | The military has helped to evacuate thousands of people in the states of Tabasco and Chiapas. Overall the floods have claimed at least five lives. |
| Officials say the floodwaters have begun to recede in Tabasco but thousands of people remain homeless. | Officials say the floodwaters have begun to recede in Tabasco but thousands of people remain homeless. |
| Others are still trapped in their homes or stranded in isolated communities. | Others are still trapped in their homes or stranded in isolated communities. |
| Only one death has been reported in Tabasco, although in the poor southern state of Chiapas, local government officials reported four deaths on Sunday after rain-swollen rivers burst their banks, damaging thousands of homes and 16 bridges. | Only one death has been reported in Tabasco, although in the poor southern state of Chiapas, local government officials reported four deaths on Sunday after rain-swollen rivers burst their banks, damaging thousands of homes and 16 bridges. |
| Most of the capital of Tabasco, Villahermosa, has now been evacuated and resources are being concentrated in evacuation centres, says the BBC's Andy Gallacher. | Most of the capital of Tabasco, Villahermosa, has now been evacuated and resources are being concentrated in evacuation centres, says the BBC's Andy Gallacher. |
| Tensions have been rising and there have been some reports of looting as supplies of food and drinking water dwindle. | Tensions have been rising and there have been some reports of looting as supplies of food and drinking water dwindle. |
| 'Catastrophe' | 'Catastrophe' |
| 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. | 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. |
| Read eyewitness accounts | |
| President Calderon has given special powers to soldiers and police to maintain order and called on private airlines to help with the relief efforts. | President Calderon has given special powers to soldiers and police to maintain order and called on private airlines to help with the relief efforts. |
| 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". |
| The floods were triggered by storms that also crippled Mexico's oil industry. | The floods were triggered by storms that also crippled Mexico's oil industry. |
| 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. |
| 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: | |
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