Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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November 3, 2007

Floods Leave Nearly One Million People Homeless in Southern Mexico
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1A1EB60:A6F02AD83191E1602348F20AE488B64AF47489ACC27D21EE Region around
Mexican state of Tabasco suffers worst flooding in 50 years





Soldiers build a dam of sand bags at the town of Villahermosa,
MexicoNearly one million people in the southern Mexican state of
Tabasco are homeless in the wake of the region's worst flooding in 50
years.

Days of heavy rains have caused river banks in the region to overflow,
submerging much of the oil-rich region underwater. Television footage
showed many residents standing on rooftops waiting to be rescued, in
scenes reminiscent of the southern U.S. city of New Orleans, Louisiana
after Hurricane Katrina.

The disaster has also left grocery stores without food and water, and
there have been reports of looting. President Felipe Calderon, who
visited the state Friday, has asked Mexicans to donate bottled water,
canned goods, personal items and other vital supplies.

International relief agencies are also providing assistance, including
the Red Cross and UNICEF.

Only one death has been reported in the disaster.

Weather forecasters predict there will be more rain in the coming
days.

Heavy rains are also taking a toll in Chiapas state to the south. A
cold front is blamed for the drenching rain storms.

Some information for this report provided by AP, Reuters and AFP.


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