Mexican flood leaves 34,000 homeless
22/10/2008 17:24
The Usumacinta River, snaking through Mexico's southeast state of Tabasco,
burst its banks after heavy rains, driving 34,500 people out of their homes by
far, authorities reported yesterday.
The flood, triggered by heavy rains in
the nearby state of Chiapas and in Guatemala, has damaged houses and ravaged
farmlands in four municipalities and 165 rural communities in the area, the
Civil Protection Office of Tabasco said yesterday.
"The most important thing
is to provide refuge for affected families," said Rurico Dominguez, director of
the Civil Protection Office.
He added that they have built some 20 shelters
in four municipalities, which has received more than 1,000 families.
The
Usumacinta River is one of the largest rivers in MexiCo The water rose above its
historical level and surpassed two meters of its critical scale within 24
hours.
The state of Tabasco suffered from heavy flood in 2007, during which
the Usumacinta River also swelled and left hundreds of people
homeless.
Xinhua
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