MEXICO: Soldiers and emergency workers rescue flood victims in Tabasco as shelters fill up

Mexican emergency workers rescued flood victims trapped in the southeastern state of Tabasco on Saturday (November 3) after heavy rains left most of the state under water. Volunteers filled sandbags to protect the city from the threat of new floods after three rivers overflowed this week in the state capital of Villahermosa. After a week of heavy rains, the three rivers, including the Carrizal River seen here, were still higher than normal. Emergency workers and soldiers visited the flood zones searched for victims still trapped in their houses. Helicopters flew overhead looking for people stuck on their roofs. Troops and equipment were brought in from across the country to help extricate those trapped by the flood water. President Felipe Calderon said Mexico's entire Air Force was engaged in an airlift to ferry supplies into Villahermosa and get residents out. "We've rescued 10 thousand people with 80 boats," said Veracruz's state civil protection director Dr. Samuel Palacios. Hundreds tried to leave the capital by bus or car and heavy traffic jams could be seen along the flooded, damaged highways surrounding the city. In neighboring Veracruz state, Mexican sailors and Red Cross volunteers organized aid that arrived from across the country for Tabasco. "The trailer was loaded with 25 tons of aid and we are putting it now on the Huasteco Ship", said Veracruz Red Cross coordinator Arturo Garcia. The ship is expected to leave on Saturday and arrive at Tabasco's Dos Bocas port around dawn on Sunday. Meanwhile, thousands of people who fled from the flooded state of Tabasco poured into shelters in the neighboring state of Veracruz. Five shelters for storm victims were set up in the port city of Veracruz. Local government buildings, a sports arena and the local trade center were set up with mattresses, quilts, portable bathrooms and kitchens. Dozens of victims arrived in Veracruz after traveling over 300 miles by bus from Villahermosa and other affected communities. Manuela López arrived from "Las Gaviotas," one of the hardest-hit neighborhoods in Villahermosa, "Its terrible," Lopez said from a Veracruz shelter, "we lost everything. We don't have anything. We are hoping the government will help us somehow." Local Governor Fidel Herrera has said that Veracruz could house up to 25-thousand victims in provisional shelters across the state. With 800,000 people left homeless, more survivors are expected to pour into shelters. The flooding is the worst this low-lying, swampy state has seen in more than 50 years.

ITN Source | November 4, 2007

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