MEXICO: Floodwaters begin to recede in southeastern Mexico, but residents are still struggling with aftermath

Residents in flood-stricken Villahermosa on Tuesday (November 6) were struggling to cope with the aftermath of massive flooding in Tabasco state as banks started running out of money and aid continued to arrive as water and food grew scarce. The state is mostly underwater after last week's rain caused rivers to burst their banks and left some 800,000 people homeless. Aid was slowly reaching the affected areas. Volunteer workers unloaded supplies which include beans, cooking oil and rice from a truck to distribute to affected residents. In Tabasco's devastated capital, Villahermosa, people have started to get their lives back on track as they visited banks. Residents stood in long queues, but banks were unable to open because they had nocash. "We depend on the companies that transport the money, we could open when the cash arrives. Opening now would be pointless if there is no money in the bank," said Bank Manager, Ernesto Granados. Resident, Araceli Ramirez, said that cash points have also run out of money. "There are a lot of people queuing, cash points have ran out of money. We have to wait until they open." Tabasco state Gov. Andres Granier said it would take three months before all of Villahermosa's evacuated residents could return to their homes. Looting continued and 53 people were arrested in Tabasco, a state official said. Only one death has been reported in Tabasco, although in neighboring Chiapas, local officials reported four fatalities on Sunday after rain-swollen rivers burst their banks, damaging thousands of homes and 16 bridges. Dozens were feared dead after a huge wall of mud and water engulfed a remote village called San Juan Grijalva, which is close to Tabasco state. Mexican states sent aid ranging from helicopters and portable water treatment plants to bottles of water and thousands of people across Mexico donated money to the cause.

ITN Source | November 7, 2007