Mexico Floods: Death Toll Rises to 28 as Torrential Rains Cause widespread Destruction
TULANCINGO DE BRAVO, Mexico – At least 28 people have died across Mexico this week due to devastating floods triggered by exceptionally heavy rainfall, authorities reported Friday, October 10th. The extreme weather has impacted 31 of Mexico’s 32 states, causing rivers to overflow, villages to be submerged, and widespread landslides and infrastructure collapses.
The central state of Hidalgo has been particularly hard hit, with 16 confirmed fatalities, 1,000 homes damaged, and 90 communities cut off from rescue efforts. Neighboring Puebla state has reported at least nine deaths, with fears the toll could rise as searches continue for the missing. Approximately 80,000 people in Puebla alone have been affected by the flooding.
Further deaths were reported in Veracruz (2) and Queretaro (1).
President Claudia Sheinbaum has mobilized a national response, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that efforts are underway to support affected populations, restore infrastructure, and reconnect power supplies. Thousands of troops, alongside boats, planes, and helicopters, have been deployed to assist in rescue and relief operations.
National Civil defence Coordinator Laura Velazquez confirmed reports of landslides, overflowing rivers, and collapsed roads throughout the affected regions. Over 5,400 troops are distributing aid, and shelters have been opened for those displaced from their homes.
The Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range, home to manny small and now isolated communities, has been the epicenter of the disaster. Roads leading to these villages, including those near Tulancingo in hidalgo state, remain closed due to landslides and collapses.
Meteorologist Isidro Cano explained that the intense rainfall, beginning Thursday, is due to a seasonal shift combined with the collision of warm, humid air from the Gulf of Mexico rising over the mountains and a cold front moving in from the north.
Adding to the challenges, authorities are monitoring tropical storms Raymond and Priscilla off the Pacific coast. while currently distant, these storms have already brought heavy rains to the states of Chiapas, Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Michoacan. Raymond is forecast to reach the southern Baja california peninsula over the weekend, weakening to a tropical depression by sunday.
Mexico has experienced unusually heavy rainfall throughout 2025, including a record rainfall in Mexico City. The current crisis underscores the vulnerability of communities to extreme weather events.
