More heavy rain brought by Hurricane Eta has caused flooding and landslides, this time in southern parts of Mexico.
In a 24 hour period to 06 November, 315mm of rain fell in Oxolotán in Tabasco State and 279.5mm in Escalón in Chiapas State, according to Mexico’s Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (SNM).
Previously Eta had caused devastation across Central America, with dozens of people feared dead in Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
Flood rescues in Chiapas, Mexico, 06 November 2020 after rain from Hurricane Eta. Photo: Civil Protection Chiapas
Chiapas
In the state of Chiapas, authorities reported on 06 November that at least 19 people had died and more than 900 houses damaged. Fatalities were reported in the municipalities of El Bosque (4), La Grandeza (4), Chenalhó (10) and Oxchuc (1).
A total of 20 municipalities in the state have been affected by flooding and landslides according to Chiapas State Civil Protection, with Chilón said to be among the hardest hit after the overflowing Agua Azul river damaged almost 700 homes.
As of 06 November, Civil Protection report a total of 906 homes, 13 roads and 2 bridges damaged. Evacuation centres have been set up the municipalities of Juárez, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Ocosingo and Ixhuatán, housing around 100 people as of 06 November.

Tabasco and Veracruz
Two flood-related fatalities were also reported in Tabasco State, where around 80,000 people have been affected by the heavy rains. Civil Protection have set up temporary shelters in 9 municipalities.
President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, visited some of the affected areas of the state on 07 November.
There is grave concern that releases from the Peñitas Dam in Chiapas State are likely to worsen the flood situation for areas of Tabasco downstream of the dam.
Meanwhile in neighbouring Veracruz, at least 3,000 homes were reported damaged by flooding and more than 10,000 people have been affected in southern parts of the state.
Guatemala
Some of the affected areas in Mexico are close to the border with Guatemala, which has seen devastating floods and landslides in the last few days.
As of 07 November, teams from military and civil protection were searching areas of Quejá in Alta Verapaz where dozens of people are feared dead after around 150 houses were buried by mudslides triggered by torrential rain from Hurricane Eta.
Social Media
Observen la gráfica sobre la situación crítica en la presa Peñitas. A las 6:00 am tenía ingresos de 3,500 metros cúbicos por segundo y se tuvieron que desfogar 2,100 m3/s hacia la planicie de Tabasco. Por eso tomé la decisión de venir. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/WnmTF4UrHJ
— Andrés Manuel (@lopezobrador_) November 8, 2020
Con el Gabinete de Seguridad y el gobernador del estado, estamos atendiendo el problema causado por las inundaciones y apoyando a los damnificados de Tabasco. pic.twitter.com/pRE8W7KlSs
— Andrés Manuel (@lopezobrador_) November 7, 2020
Policías de la Unidad Modelo de la #SSPCTabasco auxiliaron a ciudadanos del fraccionamiento #Bicentenario del municipio de #Centro en el traslado de sus bienes. pic.twitter.com/BqEVANe1NB
— SSPC Tabasco (@SSPCTabasco) November 7, 2020
En coordinación con @DIFEstatalVer y @SIOPVeracruz, mantenemos la atención por las afectaciones derivadas de inundaciones en el sur de la entidad, con la distribución de insumos humanitarios de #PC y #DIF, activando un puente aéreo y fluvial a comunidades incomunicadas. pic.twitter.com/iSK7kQ1dgg
— Secretaría de Protección Civil de Veracruz (@PCEstatalVer) November 8, 2020