At least 41 people die in Mexico after heavy rains trigger floods, landslides

At least 41 people have died in central and southeastern Mexico after days of torrential rains triggered floods and landslides, authorities said Saturday.

The death toll rose as thousands of troops scoured the destruction left by receding waters, clearing roads blocked by trees and cars to rescue the missing.

In Poza Rica, an oil town 170 miles (270 kilometers) northeast of Mexico City, residents told The Associated Press they heard the wall of water and the sound of cars crashing into each other before seeing streets flooded with more than 12 feet of water Friday.

Not everyone was able to evacuate in time.

NORTH CAROLINA FAMILY STILL RECOVERING ONE YEAR AFTER HURRICANE HELENE DESTROYED HOME

Neighbors gather around a damaged house after heavy rains in Poza Rica, Veracruz state, Mexico, Saturday, October 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Félix Márquez)

Shadack Azuara, 27, said he went to his uncle’s home at 3 a.m. Friday, before the floods, but no one answered when he knocked. He returned Saturday and found his uncle shirtless and face down in the murky water surrounding his bed, apparently drowned.

“We thought he had left, that he had evacuated with everyone who had left,” Azuara said.

A woman walks through a damaged bus station after heavy rains in Poza Rica, Veracruz state, Mexico, Saturday, October 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Félix Márquez)

Heavy rains killed 16 people in Hidalgo state, north of Mexico, and cut power in 150 communities, Mexico’s National Civil Protection Coordination reported Saturday.

Neighbors walk past the damaged bus station after heavy rains in Poza Rica, Veracruz state, Mexico, Saturday, October 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Félix Márquez)

At least nine people were killed in Puebla state, east of Mexico, and more than 16,000 homes were damaged or destroyed.

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There were also 15 deaths in Veracruz state, where the army and navy carried out rescue operations for residents of dozens of isolated communities after landslides and swollen rivers blocked roads.

People loot a supermarket damaged by heavy rains in Poza Rica, Veracruz state, Mexico, Saturday, October 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Félix Márquez)

Authorities said they were searching for 27 missing people throughout the region and that 16,000 homes were damaged in the Gulf Coast state’s 55 municipalities.

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Earlier, in the central state of Querétaro, a child died after being caught in a landslide.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.