Too Much Rain

Intense rain in southern Mexico is causing a flood of problems.

The United Nations estimates that over 600,000 people in southern Mexico and South America have been affected by heavy rains. Flooding has caused mass evacuation and massive property damages in the region.

In Mexico alone, about 92,500 people have been affected by the flooding. Six of the ten rivers in Tabasco, a state that runs along the southern edge of the Gulf of Mexico, have overflowed.

El Salvador has been hit the hardest and has been in a state of emergency since October 16. El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras have solicited humanitarian aid.

Flooding is a constant problem in Southern Mexico, where large rivers run through large cities. When these rivers overflow, homes and businesses can be flooded, forcing people to relocate their families and businesses to other parts of the city.

In 2010, for example, flooding in Minatitlán forced an open-air market to relocate. The city closed several streets to make room for the merchants.


Many cities in Mexico are built on slopes that funnel rainwater to bodies of water, such as rivers and lagoons. During heavy rains, this can cause massive flooding in lower parts of the city.