Mudslides Hit Mexico

Back in 1999, torrential rains hit ten states in southeastern Mexico, causing floods and mudslides.

At least 425 people have been killed, and 270,000 have been driven from their homes.  Thousands of acres of cropland were destroyed. 

The mudslides of October 1999 became the worst disaster to hit the country in 40 years.

And many say the government didn’t respond quickly enough.

The Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo postponed a trip to Europe to take personal charge of relief efforts.  And this decision came after growing public anger over the length of time the government took to get help to the worst-affected areas.

The army arrived almost 48 hours after the devastating mudslide swept away dozens of homes in a working-class neighborhood. 

Not only that, but the President publicly refused offers of international relief, saying his country can cope with the flooding. 

In this episode of Storm Stories, you’ll meet a family who survived the mudslides.