Hurricane Grace Causes Deadly Floods in Veracruz

Secretary of Public Security of the State of Veracruz said that 7 people died after floods and mudslides caused buildings to collapse in Xalapa, capital city of the state. Six members of the same family died in the Brisas del Río Sedeño neighbourhood of the city. A seventh victim died in the nearby 21 de Marzo neighbourhood where 3 people earlier reported missing were located alive.

Veracruz Governor Cuitláhuac García Jiménez reported another fatality after floods in the city of Poza Rica, about 130 km (80 miles) north of Xalapa.

Strong winds from Hurricane Grace also caused power cuts and brought down trees. Overall Veracruz Civil Protection reported damages in 22 municipalities in the state. Flooding was also reported in Ciudad Madero in the state of Tamaulipas close to the border with Veracruz.

Mexico’s National Meteorological Service reported that, in 24 hours to 21 August, 180 mm of rain fell in Acatlan, a small town about 18 km north of Xalapa. In Tamaulipas, 86.5 mm of rain fell in the port city of Altamira during the same period.

Grace had earlier brought strong winds to Mexico’s Caribbean coast, causing widespread power outages but no fatalities.

further north, heavy rain of 60 mm in 3 hours fell in the state of Chihuahua, causing severe flooding on 19 August. One person died and another was reported missing.