Background
Remnants of both
Hurricane Priscilla (left, at its peak intensity on 7 October 2025) and
Tropical Storm Raymond (right, at its peak intensity on 10 October 2025) are attributed as the cause of the heavy rains.
Mexico experienced unusually heavy rainfall in 2025, with Mexico City recording its wettest June in over 20 years. Authorities have related the deadly downpours to the remnants of Hurricane Priscilla and Tropical Storm Raymond, both of which brought intense rainfall to the country's western region: [7] [8] Both storms previously affected Baja California Sur, Chiapas, Guerrero, Jalisco, Michoacán, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Sonora and the Southwestern United States; however, no injuries or fatalities were reported. [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]
Situation by state
Hidalgo was among the worst affected areas, with 21 confirmed deaths and 43 missing. [3] Landslides and overflowing rivers damaged about 16,000 homes, 59 medical facilities, and 308 schools. Seventeen of its 84 municipalities (in a total of 22 impacted) faced power outages and 90 communities were left without communication. [14] [8]
In Veracruz, over 21 inches (more than 530 mm) of rainfall fell between 6 and 9 October alone. The state recorded 30 deaths (including a police officer), while nearly 30,000 homes were damaged and 70 municipalities was devastated. [2] [15] Eighteen others were reported missing. [3] The Mexican Navy evacuated approximately 900 people to shelters. [14] [8] According to Veracruzana University's students, 192 of their colleagues were missing as a result of the disaster, [16] with a female student confirmed dead. [17] The official number of missing people was later revised to around 75. [2] Poza Rica, a major oil city in the region, was hard hit by the overflow of the Cazones River, [18] The waters of the Pantepec River also flooded large parts of Álamo, [19] with streets laying under 3 feet (1 meter) of water and mud, topping by another 6 feet (2 meters) of piled-up trash, furniture and debris. [20]
In Puebla, 38 municipalities and around 16,000 houses sustained damage, 18 people were killed and 13 were reported missing. Roughly 80,000 people were affected, and rescue efforts included helping people stranded on rooftops. A gas pipeline also ruptured following a landslide. [15] [14] [8]
In San Luis Potosí, 13 municipalities in the eastern Huasteca Potosina region were affected, with a estimate of 2,200 houses damaged (at least 25 collapsed) and four bodies of water overflowing or with high flow. [15] [21] [22]
In Querétaro, eight municipalities in the state's Sierra Gorda region were affected, with the worst damage in Pinal de Amoles and San Joaquín. [15] [23] On 10 October, a six-year-old child died after being swept away by a landslide in Pinal de Amoles. [14] [24]
Response
In response, the federal government of Mexico initially deployed around 8,700 military personnel, increasing to 10,000 as of 13 October, [25] to assist in rescue and relief operations, especially where roads have been blocked. [14] [4] [26]
Authorities stated that electricity was temporarily cut off in municipalities across five states, but had been later mostly restored. [3]
Governor of Hidalgo Julio Menchaca said that all classes had been suspended due to the heavy rains. [26]
On 12 October 2025, President Claudia Sheinbaum participated in a command center videoconference with the governors of Puebla (Alejandro Armenta Mier), Hidalgo (Julio Menchaca), Querétaro (Mauricio Kuri), Veracruz (Rocío Nahle García) and San Luis Potosí (Ricardo Gallardo Cardona). "The message to the people: we know that there is much despair and concern; we will help everyone. Cleaning work will be carried out with full scope, without wasting any resources," stated Sheinbaum at the meeting. [27] She also declared in a post on X: "We continue with attention to the emergency in Veracruz, Hidalgo, Puebla, Querétaro, and San Luis Potosí, in coordination with [...] the governors, as well as various federal authorities. The National Emergency Committee is in permanent session." [28] Some media outlets and commentators criticized the government's response pace and the earlier dissolution of Mexico’s Natural Disaster Fund (FONDEN). [29] The government called the rainfall "unpredictable" while scientists called for climate change planning and better warnings. [30]
On the same day, Sheinbaum visited Poza Rica, Álamo and Huauchinango, the cities most affected by the floods. [31] [32]
On 15 October, Veracruzana University's students organized protests for the colleague killed during the floods. [33]
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