When torrential rains slammed into a vast area of Mexico last week, the Cazones River swelled with such speed that residents had virtually no time to evacuate. Within mere hours, the river’s waters rose by many feet, according to both local authorities and residents, overflowing its banks and inundating homes, particularly in Poza Rica, a working-class city in Veracruz State.
“The alert arrived when the wave was already on top of you,” recounted Adán González Ortega, a 78-year-old resident, during an interview on Thursday.
He managed to reach his sister’s house by the time the water was waist-deep, but tragically, not everyone was as fortunate.
The disaster has claimed at least 70 lives, with another 72 individuals still reported missing, officials confirmed on Thursday. This makes it one of the most severe flooding events the country has experienced in recent memory.
(Video: Footage of an area in Poza Rica severely affected by recent heavy rains.)
(Image: A scene of devastation in Poza Rica, showing flooded streets, people inside a car looking out windows, and furniture and trash piled up, illustrating the widespread damage.)
The sudden and intense flooding impacted the Mexican states of Veracruz, Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí, Querétaro, and Puebla. Rivers burst their banks, landslides blocked crucial roads, and countless individuals found themselves trapped in their homes and vehicles, some sustaining injuries. In just four days, some regions recorded approximately 20 inches of rainfall, government figures reveal.
This catastrophe has placed immense pressure on the government, especially given that a national disaster fund was drastically reduced by the previous administration. Videos circulating widely on social media have only amplified this scrutiny, showing everything from a restaurant floating away to a man and his dogs being rescued from a powerful river. One particularly viral clip captured residents directly confronting the president herself regarding the official preparedness and response.
“They didn’t say that anything like this was going to happen,” Mr. González reiterated from his mud-filled home in Poza Rica.
(Image: Cleanup efforts are underway in a Poza Rica neighborhood, where mud and debris are pervasive.)
(Image: Adán González Ortega, 78, is seen on his flooded patio in Poza Rica.)
Many residents expressed frustration, complaining that emergency assistance took too long to arrive. They noted that often, the first help came from their own neighbors.
President Sheinbaum visited the devastated areas this week, stating to reporters on Monday that there had been no prior indication of the impending scale of the rainfall.
“There were no scientific or meteorological conditions that could have indicated to us that the rainfall would be of this magnitude,” she explained, adding that officials had primarily been monitoring two other major storms in the Pacific at the time.
(Video: Members of the Navy leading support activities in Poza Rica.)
(Image: A member of the Navy stands guard in one of the flooded areas in Poza Rica.)
Her direct engagement in the affected states stands in stark contrast to the approach of her predecessor and mentor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who faced widespread criticism for his limited public presence after Hurricane Otis ravaged Mexico’s Pacific Coast in 2023.
Ms. Sheinbaum “decided to take the bull by the horns,” observed René Delgado, a political commentator, during a television interview on Wednesday.
However, this high-profile visit also carries the risk of making her the public face of the problem for the victims, Delgado noted. While President Sheinbaum has largely enjoyed strong public support thus far—a reflection of her dedication to social programs and adept handling of relations with President Trump—analysts suggest this disaster is testing her leadership in an unprecedented way.
Throughout the recovery efforts this week, officials have worked to reassure residents that a robust system is in place to locate and clear blocked roads, and that aid, including aerial support from aircraft and helicopters when necessary, will reach them.
The government’s social media channels have been filled with images of Ms. Sheinbaum navigating through mud and offering comfort to residents. On Thursday, the Navy facilitated a visit for a group of journalists, including representatives from The New York Times, to Poza Rica, aiming to highlight their ongoing relief efforts.
In neighborhoods still choked with mud and debris, people expressed gratitude to the Navy as supplies were distributed and roads were cleared. Yet, some residents openly voiced their complaints to the troops about what they perceived as inadequate assistance.
While the Navy had managed to clear several areas, many neighborhoods remained in dire condition. Numerous residents reported that floodwaters had reached their ceilings, rendering countless possessions—from mattresses and appliances to cars—irreparable.
(Image: Water still remains in some areas affected by the flooding in Poza Rica.)
(Video: President Claudia Sheinbaum affirms her administration’s commitment to significant reconstruction efforts, sparing no expense.)
“Mud smells and is heavy,” commented Lorenzo Bruno Lara, a 60-year-old mechanic, as he labored to shovel debris from his property.
Navy medical officials have raised significant concerns about the high risk of infection from bacteria and waste contaminating the mud.
Government criticism has not subsided, fueled primarily by the video of residents confronting Ms. Sheinbaum and by vocal attacks from her political adversaries.
Some, however, direct their blame not at Ms. Sheinbaum but at Mr. López Obrador, who dissolved a special disaster relief fund amidst unproven corruption allegations.
Conversely, Ms. Sheinbaum’s proactive response has also garnered praise, particularly from those who appreciate her willingness to take responsibility, a stance that differs from other members of her party.
Notably, the governor of Veracruz initially downplayed the severity of the flooding in her state last week, describing the Cazones River’s overflow as merely “light.”
President Sheinbaum has pledged that her administration will commit all necessary resources, including funding for comprehensive reconstruction efforts.
Eduardo Cerecedo, 32, whose family lives just a block from the Cazones River, was well aware that Poza Rica was considered a high-risk area for flooding. However, unable to afford relocation, he expressed a desire for authorities to have taken stronger preventative measures, such as constructing higher retaining walls.
“We have to start from scratch,” he lamented, “because we have nothing here.”
(Image: Mud covers the ground in one of the areas affected by recent flooding in Poza Rica, showing clear footprints.)
Emiliano Rodríguez Mega contributed reporting from Mexico City.