Death toll rises to 37 as floods, landslides hit central and southeastern Mexico

Heavy rains triggered by Tropical Storms Priscilla and Raymond have claimed at least 37 lives across central and southeastern Mexico, authorities reported Saturday as thousands of soldiers worked to clear blocked roads and rescue missing residents.

Mexico’s National Coordination of Civil Protection said the state of Hidalgo, north of Mexico City, was hardest hit, with 22 fatalities and power cut to 150 communities. Puebla, east of the capital, recorded at least nine deaths and damage to more than 16,000 homes.

In Veracruz, five people died as the army and navy assisted in rescuing residents from 42 isolated communities, with flooding and landslides affecting roads and streams. Across the state’s 55 municipalities, authorities said another 16,000 homes suffered damage. Earlier in Querétaro, a child was killed when caught in a landslide.

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Rescue and relief efforts continue as authorities assess damage and work to restore essential services to affected areas.

Across the country, over 320,000 users were affected by power outages caused by the heavy rains, authorities said. Authorities have attributed the deadly downpours to Tropical Storm Priscilla, formerly a hurricane, and Tropical Storm Raymond, both off the western coast of Mexico.

With inputs from agencies