MEXICO: Epidemiological watch in Tabasco; search for mudslide survivors continues

The death toll from a mudslide in the Mexican state of Chiapas could rise as high as 30 as efforts continued to recover bodies from the scene of the disaster. Three bodies have been found, and at least 13 more people are feared dead, as Mexican soldiers dug on Tuesday (November 6) for victims of a giant mudslide that buried a village when torrential rains caused a soaked hillside to collapse. A wall of water and mud over half a mile (1 km) long engulfed Juan de Grijalva on Sunday night, smothering houses under tonnes of earth and rock. A local resident, Regino Sanchez, said that it all happened very quickly. "It was like a tide that went up and then down again, but it happened fast and provoked this tide just like a giant wave," he said. The mudslide left a huge brown stain on the green tropical hills of Chiapas state before falling into a river and kicking up a huge wave that hit the village. Scuba divers were searching the Grijalva River for survivors or bodies. News from the village, perched on a remote mountain, took almost a day to reach the outside world. Initial reports said the accident happened on Monday. The rains that triggered the mudslide had already flooded Tabasco state downriver, forcing some 800,000 people from their homes in one of Mexico's biggest natural disasters. Three people have been reported dead in Tabasco, an oil-producing state, but many have lost their livelihoods and the region's economy has been devastated. In the state capital of Villahermosa, water has started to recede from the Grijalva River. A local resident, Regino Sanchez told Reuters that water in his house has gone down. "Where I live around here, just behind this park, the water has gone down approximately one metre and 20 centimetres." The federal government began pumping water from Villahermosa, home to half a million people, on Tuesday (November 6) and Calderon said it plans to carry out a massive fumigation program to prevent waterborne diseases. But most residents are unlikely to return for up to three months. There have been no reported outbreaks of cholera among the population, nevertheless, the Health Ministry is ensuring that people are vaccinated against cholera, as well as influenza and salmonella. As soon as water levels go down, the population will receive hepatitis A and tetanus vaccinations. Dead animals are being buried in large pits and lined with lime to avoid spread of infections. Common diseases also include skin infections and respiratory problems and people have been advised to stay out of the water. Government health officials are pleading with the population to take necessary sanitary measures in order to avoid illnesses. Residents started to clean their businesses, as they are desperate to get back to work. Many businesses suffered looting and 53 people were arrested in Tabasco, a state prosecution official said. President Felipe Calderon, promised 7 billion pesos ($655 million) in government aid for the flooded areas. Gov. Andres Granier put the economic cost of the disaster at 50 billion pesos ($4.7 billion).

ITN Source | November 8, 2007