'Worst Natural Disaster' in History Hits Mexico
Pastor Dale Morgan
'Worst Natural Disaster' in History Hits Mexico*
* Story Highlights
* Health officials warn against epidemics of cholera, other diseases
* 900,000 people's homes flooded, damaged or cut off
* Weeklong heavy rain overflows rivers, flooding 80 percent of
Tabasco state
* "We have lost everything," says one victim
VILLAHERMOSA, Mexico (AP) -- Hundreds of thousands of Mexicans fled a
flooded region of the Gulf coast Friday, jumping from rooftops into
rescue helicopters, scrambling into boats or swimming out through murky
brown water.
Floods in Tabasco, Mexico, forced thousands to flee, including these
families on Thursday.
more photos »
President Felipe Calderon called the flooding in Tabasco state one of
Mexico's worst recent natural disasters, and pledged to rebuild.
A week of heavy rains caused rivers to overflow, drowning at least 80
percent of the oil-rich state.
Much of the state capital, Villahermosa, looked like New Orleans after
Hurricane Katrina, with water reaching to second-story rooftops and
desperate people awaiting rescue. Video Watch residents swim through
flooded streets »
At least one death was reported and nearly all services, including
drinking water and public transportation, were shut down.
The flood affected more than 900,000 people in the state of 2 million --
their homes flooded, damaged or cut off by high water.
A 10-inch natural gas pipeline sprang a leak after flooding apparently
washed away soil underneath it, but it was unclear if other facilities
operated by the state-run Petroleos Mexicanos were damaged or if oil
production was affected.
Workers tried to protect Villahermosa's famous Olmec statues by placing
sandbag collars around their enormous stone heads, and built sandbag
walls to hold back the Grijalva River in the state capital.
But the water rose quickly, surprising residents used to annual floods
and forcing soldiers to evacuate the historic city center. The dikes
failed Thursday night, and water swamped the capital's bus station and
open-air market. Photo See dramatic images of the deluge »
Rain gave way to sunshine Friday, but tens of thousands of people were
still stranded on rooftops or in the upper floors of their homes.
Rescue workers used tractors, helicopters, jet skis and boats to ferry
people to safety, while others swam through water infested by poisonous
snakes to reach higher ground.
Calderon met with state officials and flew over the affected areas. See
states and river where flooding has hit hardest »
The extent of the flooding was clear from the sky -- Tabasco state
seemed like an inland sea with only rooftops and treetops protruding
from the water.
"This is not just the worst natural catastrophe in the state's history
but, I would venture to say, one of the worst in the recent history of
the country," Calderon said Friday during an emergency meeting with
state officials in Villahermosa.
The president ordered the armed forces and federal police to maintain
order and prevent looting, and asked residents to remain calm. He
canceled a trip to Panama, Colombia and Peru.
"Once we have passed the critical stage ... we are going to reconstruct
Tabasco, whatever it takes," Calderon said.
Mexicans rallied around the disaster, with people across the country
contributing money and supplies.
Television stations dedicated entire newscasts to the flooding and
morning shows switched from yoga and home improvement to calls for aid.
Friday was the Day of the Dead holiday, but banks opened to accept
donations for flood victims.
Food and clean drinking water were extremely scarce in Tabasco state,
and federal Deputy Health Secretary Mauricio Hernandez warned that there
could be outbreaks of cholera and other waterborne diseases.
"With so many people packed together there is a chance that infectious
diseases could spread," he said.
Officials tested for 600 suspected cases of cholera, but none was
positive, he said. The waterborne sickness, which can be fatal, has not
been reported in Mexico for at least six years.
The government also sent 20,000 Hepatitis A vaccinations and were giving
booster shots to children to prevent outbreaks, Hernandez said.
Medical care was difficult, however, because at least 50 of the state's
hospitals and medical centers were flooded.
Hotels, parking garages and other dry structures were converted into
temporary shelters for those forced from their homes.
Guadalupe de la Cruz, a receptionist at the Hotel Calinda Viva
Villahermosa, said the hotel's meeting rooms were being used as shelters
for employees' families. She said the 240-room hotel was completely
booked, mostly by people who had fled their homes.
Many people were headed to nearby cities unaffected by the floods.
Highways that weren't covered with water were packed with residents
fleeing in cars and on foot. The exodus appeared to be orderly with no
reports of violence.
Villahermosa resident Mauricio Hernandez, 27, who is not related to the
federal official, paid a taxi to go to Cardenas, 30 miles away. From
there, he planned to hop a bus to the port city of Coatzacoalcos.
"We are leaving because we cannot live like this," he said. "We don't
have any water, and the shelters are full. Where are we going to go?"
State officials sent 50 buses to a museum in the capital where hundreds
of people gathered.
"We wanted to stay in the city but it is no longer possible," said Jorge
Rodriguez, 43. "We have lost everything."