The death toll from Mexico’s floods has risen to 44 dead and dozens missing Weather news

The crisis damaged more than 16,000 homes and caused widespread power outages.

Torrential floods continued to ravage parts of central and southeastern Mexico, raising the death toll to at least 44 people in less than a week.

Heavy rains caused by two tropical storms It caused landslides and floods The government said in a statement on Sunday that the hurricane hit five states, including Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo, Queretaro and San Luis Potosi.

The statement said the floods claimed the lives of 18 people in Veracruz state, 16 in Hidalgo, nine in Puebla and one in Queretaro.

Mexican newspaper El Universal put the death toll even higher, at 48, and reported that dozens were still missing.

About 320,000 people were left without power, and at least 16,000 homes were damaged, according to authorities, who fear more landslides and river overflows will worsen the damage.

“We will not leave anyone behind”

President Claudia Sheinbaum said the army had been mobilized to assist in rescue operations and aid distribution. “We will not leave anyone without support,” she said in a post on X.

Pictures published by the army showed soldiers evacuating residents using lifeboats, houses submerged in mud, and rescue workers walking through waist-high water.

Mexico has been hit by particularly heavy rains this year, and Mexico City recorded its rainiest June day in more than two decades.

Authorities attributed the recent deadly heavy rains to the remnants of Hurricane Priscilla and Tropical Rainstorm Raymond, both of which dumped torrential rains on western Mexico.

The remnants of Raymond, with wind gusts now reaching 45 kilometers per hour (28 mph), are expected to hit the southern part of Baja California on Sunday.