A wave of catastrophic rainfall has unleashed chaos across parts of southern and central Mexico, leaving at least 64 people dead and 65 still missing as rescue operations stretch into their fifth day.
The relentless downpour, which began earlier this week, triggered massive landslides, flash floods, and the collapse of critical infrastructure, cutting off entire towns from emergency assistance.
In the state of Guerrero, entire neighborhoods have been buried under mud and debris after hillsides gave way overnight. Local officials say dozens of families remain trapped in areas inaccessible by road. Helicopters and rescue boats have been deployed as authorities race against time — and the weather — to locate survivors.
Footage from the region shows homes swept away, bridges destroyed, and families wading through waist-deep water carrying what little they could save.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has declared a state of emergency, mobilizing the military and National Guard for rescue and recovery efforts.
Meteorologists report that the storm system responsible — remnants of a tropical depression — dumped more than 20 inches of rain in just 48 hours, one of the heaviest recorded in decades.
As shelters fill up and power outages persist, the human toll continues to rise.
Local volunteer Carlos Méndez told reporters:
“People have lost everything. The water came in the night — no warning, no chance to run. We are just praying for those still missing.”
For thousands across Mexico, the next few days will determine not just survival — but how to rebuild lives shattered by nature’s fury.