Mexico – Disaster Declared After Deadly Floods in Sinaloa

Mexico’s Ministry of Interior has issued a Disaster Declaration for 11 municipalities in the state of Sinaloa after storms brought heavy rain and severe flooding from 19 September, 2018.

The municipalities covered by the declaration are Ahome, El Fuerte, Choix, Guasave, Sinaloa, Angostura, Salvador Alvarado, Mocorito, Badiraguato, Navolato and Culiacan.

Mexico’s Servicio Meteorológico Nacional said the severe weather was caused by the passage of Tropical Depression 19-E. Sinaloa Governor, Quirino Ordaz Coppel, said in a statement that 359 mm of rain fell in Los Mochis in 24 hours to 20 September.

Around 60,000 people were left without power and 150,000 affected by interruptions to drinking water supply.

At least three people have died as a result of the severe weather. One person died after being electrocuted from fallen power cables in Los Mochis. Two people drowned after being swept away by flood water in Culiacán. Local media say more people are reported missing.

Damage to homes was reported in Los Mochis, Culiacán and Navolato. Sinaloa’s State Committee for Civil Protection said that 2,336 people were evacuated and were staying in 13 relief shelters.

Schools have been closed and classes suspended at all educational levels in the municipalities of Culiacan, Navolato, Angostura, Mocorito, Salvador Alvarado, Sinaloa, Guasave, Ahome and El Fuerte.

Evacuations in Chihuahua

Further severe weather affected parts of western Mexico, including the states of Sinaloa, Chihuahua and Durango, from 23 September.

Flooding has forced residents to evacuate their homes in the municipalities of Batopilas, Chínipas, Guazapares, Maguarichi, Uruachi and Urique in the state of Chihuahua, according to local media.

Social Media

Personal de la 9/a. Zona Militar (Culiacán, Sin.) aplica el #PLANDNIIIE en su “Fase de Auxilio” rescatando y evacuando personas al albergue ubicado en la Universidad Autónoma de Occidente sector Nor-Poniente en la colonia 4 de Marzo, #Culiacán #Sinaloa pic.twitter.com/SPcedPJUNN

— SEDENA México (@SEDENAmx) September 21, 2018

Atentos, continuarán las #Lluvias en #Sinaloa, generado por un amplio sistema de #Tormentas pic.twitter.com/GVic3cRD4L

— CONAGUA Clima (@conagua_clima) September 20, 2018

https://twitter.com/PresidenciaMX/status/1042914930444316672

Personal del 42/o. Batallón de Infantería (Guamúchil, Sin.) aplica el #PLANDNIIIE en la “Fase de Recuperación”, apoyando a personas afectadas por las fuertes lluvias, en la colonia las Garzas de #Guamúchil #Sinaloa pic.twitter.com/t5saBmwquG

— SEDENA México (@SEDENAmx) September 24, 2018

Imagen de satélite de las 01:00 h, muestra Amplia y densa nube de #Tormenta muy fuerte acompañada de #ActividadEléctrica y #Viento arrachado en #Chihuahua, #Durango y #Sinaloa. pic.twitter.com/2BctlWByCD

— CONAGUA Clima (@conagua_clima) September 24, 2018

Breaking NewsMexico