Flood debris hampers rescue and cleanup efforts in eastern Mexico

Flood debris hampers rescue and cleanup efforts in eastern Mexico

Five days after historic flooding killed at least 66 people in central and eastern Mexico, massive piles of debris and thick mud are hampering rescue and cleanup operations as authorities scramble to reach the hardest-hit communities and search for 75 people still missing.

The overflowing of a river in Poza Rica, in eastern Mexico, has left dozens of families trapped among mud, garbage, and rubble, with humanitarian aid arriving slowly, according to affected residents.

Drone footage showed entire streets blanketed in mud and debris, with personal belongings buried under foul-smelling sludge on Wednesday, October 15.

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