Days of relentless rain and flooding have devastated central and eastern Mexico, leaving a mounting death toll, widespread destruction, and thousands of lives upended. As of October 13, 2025, official reports confirm at least 64 fatalities and 65 people still missing, with the numbers rising sharply as rescue teams reach isolated communities. The disaster, triggered by the combined fury of Tropical Storm Raymond and Hurricane Priscilla, has swept across five states—Veracruz, Hidalgo, Puebla, Querétaro, and San Luis Potosí—affecting 139 municipalities and leaving a trail of heartbreak and uncertainty.
According to the Mexican government’s latest updates, the largest losses have been recorded in Veracruz, where 18 deaths have been confirmed, followed by Hidalgo with 16, Puebla with 9, and Querétaro with one fatality. San Luis Potosí has seen widespread damage but, as of now, no reported casualties. The toll has risen by 17 within just 12 hours, a stark reminder that the disaster is still unfolding and the full extent of the tragedy may not yet be known.
The scale of the flooding is among the deadliest Mexico has faced in recent years, as noted by multiple sources including BNO News and Reuters. The torrential rains, which began on October 8, 2025, have been relentless, causing rivers to spill over their banks, unleashing landslides, and sweeping away roads and bridges. In Poza Rica, a city in northern Veracruz, the Cazones River overflowed dramatically, inundating entire neighborhoods and leaving homes submerged up to their rooftops. Aerial photographs released by the Mexican Navy show boats navigating what used to be city streets, a surreal scene that underscores the severity of the crisis.
The government’s response has been swift but challenging. Emergency protocols have been activated in 117 of the hardest-hit municipalities, and more than 10,000 soldiers, along with personnel from the Defense Ministry, Navy, and other agencies, have been deployed for rescue and recovery. Using boats, helicopters, and excavators, these teams have worked around the clock to clear blocked roads, rescue stranded residents, and deliver food and medical supplies to cut-off communities. Footage released by the armed forces shows rescuers moving through waist-deep water, evacuating families in rubber boats, and bringing aid to those who have lost everything.
President Claudia Sheinbaum has taken a hands-on approach, convening governors from the most affected states to direct an emergency response plan. She visited Veracruz on October 12, 2025, where she addressed the desperate situation facing many communities. "There are still various communities in Veracruz that find themselves cut off that fortunately today they were able to establish air bridges to be able to take food, water and attend to any sick people," Sheinbaum said during her visit, as reported by the South China Morning Post. "We know that there is a lot of desperation and worry. We’re going to get to everyone."
Despite these efforts, the challenges remain immense. More than 15,000 residents have been evacuated from high-risk zones and relocated to temporary shelters. But for thousands more, daily life has been upended by the loss of power and running water—a situation that has persisted for days. In many places, the infrastructure has been so badly damaged that aid workers still struggle to reach remote villages. Tens of thousands of homes, clinics, schools, roads, and bridges have been damaged or destroyed, with some communities completely cut off from the outside world.
According to Kazinform and WAM, the deployment of the military has been crucial in distributing aid and maintaining order in the affected regions. Boats, planes, and helicopters have been used to reach isolated areas, and shelters have been opened for those displaced from their homes. The military’s presence has provided a lifeline for many, but the emotional toll on survivors is palpable. Families have been separated, and the search for missing loved ones continues under increasingly difficult conditions.
The meteorological threat is not over. Weather experts warn that further rainfall is expected in the coming days, raising the risk of additional landslides and flooding. With the soil already saturated, even moderate rain could trigger new disasters. Authorities are urging residents in vulnerable areas to remain vigilant and heed evacuation orders as the situation evolves.
The cause of this calamity has been traced to the rare convergence of two powerful storms. Tropical Storm Raymond and Hurricane Priscilla—Priscilla briefly reached Category 2 strength before weakening—battered the region in quick succession. The unpredictable system unleashed not only floods but also numerous landslides, compounding the destruction. According to Reuters, the government is working in close collaboration with local agencies and federal authorities to stabilize the situation and provide rapid assistance to those in greatest need.
In the hardest-hit areas, the sense of urgency is palpable. Hundreds of army personnel, police officers, and firefighters have been conducting rescue operations, setting up temporary shelters, and delivering essential supplies. In Veracruz and Puebla, air bridges established on October 12 were used to deliver food, water, and medical aid to communities that had been completely isolated by the floods. The images of pickup trucks dangling over fences and rivers swallowing entire neighborhoods have become symbols of the disaster’s severity.
Mexico has been no stranger to heavy rains in 2025, with the capital, Mexico City, recording a new rainfall record earlier in the year. But the scale and impact of this latest disaster have tested the country’s emergency response systems to their limits. The coordination between federal, state, and local agencies has been critical, but as the death toll climbs and the search for the missing continues, the road to recovery promises to be long and fraught with difficulty.
For now, the focus remains on rescue and relief. Authorities continue to search for the 65 people still unaccounted for, while thousands of displaced residents seek shelter and support. The government has pledged that aid will reach every affected community, but with many areas still underwater or only accessible by air, the task is daunting.
As the rains finally begin to subside and the waters slowly recede, Mexico faces the enormous challenge of rebuilding not just its infrastructure, but also the lives of those shattered by the floods. The scars of this disaster will linger, but the resilience of the affected communities—and the determination of those working to help—provide a measure of hope amid the devastation.