Severe land/mudslide buries houses, 16 still missing

[uppityperson]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/07/world/americas/07mexico.html

Additional teams of medical workers and police officers from other parts of Mexico flew into the state of Tabasco today as authorities raised concerns about escalating health problems and looting after the five days of heavy rains last week that put much of the low-lying state under water.

The swollen rivers that had flooded much of Tabasco continued to recede today, but as streets once again become passable the authorities said they were worried that the improved conditions would help looters. The flooding has forced tens of thousands of residents from their homes, and many are still living in shelters, or staying in hotels or camping by roads.

Rescue workers continued to search for the 16 people missing after a hillside gave way in the neighboring state of Chiapas, where the same heavy rains that caused the floods had cut off some mountain villages. The mudslide, on Sunday, swept into the Grijalva River so fast that it created a wave that covered the village of San Juan Grijalva, dragging people into the water, Mexico’s Interior Ministry said. On Monday, helicopters flew soldiers and police officers to assist survivors and search for the dead.

Until the mudslide, the death toll after the floods had stood at less than 10 in both Tabasco and Chiapas....(more)

http://mwcnews.net/content/view/17878/0/

At least eight people have been buried alive and up to 16 others are missing after waves of mud and water engulfed a village in Mexico's southern Chiapas state. About 100 houses in the village of San Juan Grijalva were buried after a landslide struck a rain-swollen river on Monday and swept through the area.

"This village practically disappeared," said Juan Sabines, the Chiapas governor. "A mountain fell into the river, blocking the River Grijalva ... and created a wave ... that has flattened the town."
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San Juan Grijalva is close to Tobasco state on Mexico's southern Gulf coast where about 80 per cent of the region is underwater after rain last week caused rivers to burst their banks and left 800,000 people homeless.

Food and water shortages have occurred in some areas of Tobasco in the past two days.People have begun drinking water from muddy rivers and cisterns in Villahermosa, Tobascos' capital, residents said. Government officials said Villahermosa's evacuated residents would not be able to return for months."We're calculating the problem as one of three months ... before 100 percent of the people can go home," Tabasco state governor Andres Granier said.

[uppityperson]

1. kick for aftermath of flooding. Their "Katrina" continues.

[in_cog_ni_to]

2. OMG...those poor people!

:(