Mudslide update

This story from Latin American Herald Tribune says more about how everything is connect than immediately is apparent.  The issues include indigenous rights, deforestation and the environment, climate change, government dysfunction to mention a few.

At least 37 people died and three went missing in mudslides over the last few days on several mountainsides in two of Mexico’s southern states as a result of the heavy rains, authorities said.

The last six bodies were found late Thursday in Santa Maria Tlahuitoltepec, Oaxaca state, in a mudslide that buried several homes.

In the neighboring state of Chiapas, the recovery of 19 bodies in two mudslides brought to 26 the number of fatalities left since Sunday in the path of Tropical Depression Matthew, which also left 16 people injured and three missing.

A total of 45 Chiapas communities were severely affected, with 1,500 homes damaged, 14 bridges down and damages to infrastructure in roads, communications, electricity and potable water.

In towns near Oaxaca city at least 3,000 people are known to have been left homeless.

The federal director of Civil Protection, Laura Gurza, said Wednesday that more mudslides are forecast for the mountainous regions in the states of Chiapas and Oaxaca, so that all should stay on the alert for any contingency.

She said that throughout the area there has been widespread deforestation and the ground has been greatly softened by the rains, causing mud and rocks to pour downhill to the lower areas.

 Additionally, the local media says that 80 percent of the almost 24,000 kms of the roads in the state have been damaged.