MEXICO CITY (FN) Torrential rains sweeping across Mexico this week have triggered deadly floods and landslides, leaving at least 28 people dead and displacing thousands, officials said Friday. The deluge has battered nearly every corner of the country, overwhelming infrastructure and isolating remote communities.
Civil defense authorities reported that 31 of Mexico’s 32 states experienced intense rainfall, with rivers breaching their banks and entire villages submerged. The central state of Hidalgo bore the brunt of the disaster, where 16 fatalities were confirmed and over 1,000 homes were damaged. Ninety communities in the region remain inaccessible due to collapsed roads and landslide.
In neighboring Puebla, officials said nine people were killed and 13 remain missing. The state government estimates that more than 80,000 residents have been affected by the flooding, which has disrupted electricity and communications in several municipalities.
Additional casualties were reported in Veracruz and Queretaro, where rising waters claimed three lives. The eastern state of Veracruz also saw widespread damage to homes and public infrastructure, including hospitals and schools.
President Claudia Sheinbaum announced the deployment of thousands of military personnel, helicopters, boats, and rescue vehicles to assist in relief operations. “We are working to support the population, reopen roads and get the power back on,” she said in a statement following a cabinet meeting. More than 5,400 troops have been mobilized to distribute aid and evacuate stranded resident.
The Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range, which runs parallel to the Gulf of Mexico, has emerged as a focal point of the crisis. Small communities nestled in the range have been cut off, with access roads from Tulancingo, Hidalgo’s gateway city, blocked by landslides. Shelters have been opened to accommodate displaced families.
Meteorologists attribute the extreme weather to a seasonal shift intensified by warm, moist air from the Gulf rising into mountainous terrain. A cold front moving southward has further amplified rainfall across central and southern Mexico. The capital, Mexico City, recorded its highest rainfall levels of the year earlier this week.
The situation has been compounded by two tropical systems—Raymond and Priscilla—off the Pacific coast. Though Priscilla has weakened from a Category 2 hurricane, both storms have dumped heavy rain on Chiapas, Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Michoacan. Raymond is expected to make landfall in southern Baja California over the weekend, likely as a tropical depression.
Mexico has faced a string of climate-related disasters in 2025, with experts warning that extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe. Civil defense coordinator Laura Velazquez emphasized the need for long-term resilience planning, noting that infrastructure in vulnerable regions must be reinforced to withstand future storms.
