Mexico: at least 70 dead in floods, army deployed

Friday 17 October 2025 - 10:30

By: Sahili Aya

Mexico: at least 70 dead in floods, army deployed

Mexico has deployed nearly 13,000 soldiers and navy personnel to assist victims of last week’s torrential rains, which have left at least 70 people dead in the central and eastern regions of the country, according to the latest official report released Thursday.

In Xochicoatlán, a mountainous area in the state of Hidalgo, the National Guard delivered by helicopter essential supplies such as tuna, milk, oatmeal, soap, and toilet paper to isolated communities. “There’s nothing left to buy in the stores,” said Marilyn Cortés, a 37-year-old resident. “This will help us a lot — we really need it.”

In the small village of Texcaco, residents lined up to help soldiers unload supplies from a military helicopter, while children watched the operation with curiosity. Multiple air missions were conducted from Pachuca, Hidalgo’s capital, to isolated towns including Tianguistengo and Xalacahuantla.

The National Guard is also transporting the injured to hospitals. “If people need medical treatment or emergency evacuation, we transport them by air,” explained Captain Irak Alejandro Martínez of the Mexican Air Force.

The disaster, triggered by several days of intense rain, has cut off 160 communities across central and eastern Mexico after landslides and floods destroyed major roads and highways. The Hidalgo region, near Mexico City, has been the hardest hit, with 84 isolated municipalities due to its rugged terrain.

Meteorological services said the flooding resulted from the convergence of a tropical depression entering from the Gulf of Mexico and a cold front descending from the north — a rare combination at the end of the rainy season.