Perilous Times and Climate Change
Thousands washed out by flooding in southern Mexico
The Associated Press
Sunday, August 29, 2010; 2:12 PM
VILLAHERMOSA, Mexico -- Authorities in Mexico's Gulf coast state of
Tabasco are evacuating about 7,000 people and preparing to dig relief
channels to avoid further flooding from the Grijalva River.
Weeks of steady rains have caused a half-dozen rivers to overflow,
partially flooding the homes or croplands of more than 60,000 people in
about 200 towns. Dams in the area are near capacity.
The federal government has declared a state of emergency for 12
low-laying Tabasco townships, freeing emergency funds.
The state government said it would evacuate people on Sunday, and
authorities said relief ditches would be dug to channel water through
less-populated areas to prevent flooding in the state capital, which
was severely flooded in 2007.