Vehicles lie stuck in thick mud after severe flooding hit Poza Rica in Mexico’s Veracruz state on Sunday, October 12, 2025. (AP Photo)
Fifteen minutes before floodwaters swept through her home, Lilia Ramirez grabbed what she could and ran. When she returned, she found her house in ruins. The first floor, once painted soft pink, was now covered in thick black streaks of oil carried by the floodwaters.
Poza Rica, the oil-producing city where she lives, is one of many places hit hard by the deadly flooding that has swept across five Mexican states. So far, 64 people have died, 65 remain missing, and roughly 100,000 homes have been damaged by relentless rain.
“This has never happened before,” Ramirez said Monday, looking at her oil-stained walls. “It’s never been tarred like that.”
Floods and Oil Mix in Poza Rica
Poza Rica sits near the Gulf of Mexico, where oil production has long defined the community. The flood brought not only water but also oily residue from nearby facilities. Streets are covered in mud mixed with oil, coating trees, rooftops, and cars.
Residents say the mess is worse than anything they have seen before. “It was terrifying,” said Roberto Olvera, Ramirez’s husband. “The siren from a nearby Pemex plant warned us, but some neighbours stayed behind and didn’t survive.”
Pemex, Mexico’s state oil company, said in a brief statement that it had no reports of an oil spill. However, many residents believe the floodwaters carried oil from storage areas into residential zones.
Troops and Helicopters Rush Aid
President Claudia Sheinbaum said Mexico has deployed about 10,000 soldiers and rescue workers to the hardest-hit areas. Helicopters have been delivering food and water to around 200 isolated communities and evacuating the sick and injured.
“There are sufficient resources, this won’t be skimped on,” Sheinbaum said during her Monday press conference. “We are still in the emergency period.”
In the state of Veracruz, some areas received nearly 25 inches (63 centimetres) of rain between October 6 and 9. The deluge destroyed roads and bridges, leaving many villages cut off from help.
Sheinbaum said it could take several more days to reach all affected regions. “Many flights are still needed to deliver enough food and water,” she explained.
Rising Death Toll Across States
Mexico’s Civil Protection agency reported that Veracruz, on the Gulf Coast, has seen the worst damage, with 29 deaths. The neighbouring state of Hidalgo has recorded 21 deaths, while 13 people died in Puebla. In Queretaro, a landslide claimed the life of a young child.
Officials say the heavy rains were caused by two tropical systems — Hurricane Priscilla and Tropical Storm Raymond — that formed off Mexico’s western coast before dissipating.
Long Road to Recovery
As the water slowly recedes, families like Ramirez’s face the difficult task of cleaning up what remains. Mud, oil, and debris cover nearly every street in Poza Rica. For many, the recovery will take months, if not longer.
“We lost everything,” Ramirez said quietly. “But at least we survived.”
