Tens of thousands of Mexicans are trapped in floodwaters

Tens of thousands of Mexicans today are trapped on the roofs after heavy rains have flooded nearly all of the southern state of Tabasco. At least 500,000 people lost their homes, one died. President Felipe Calderon said this is the worst natural disaster in the country's history.

On television is the scene of rescue workers urgently bringing people trapped out of the whirlpool, chiseling up the roof.'The situation is becoming very serious,' Calderon said on television.

Tabasco state governor, Andres Granier, said more than 1 million people, about half of the state's population, were besieged in the country, and many people called the local radio station for help. The floodwaters have turned many towns and most of the state's Villahermosa capital into big lakes.

Naval soldiers and rescue workers have taken boats to the streets, bringing many people out of the floodplain onto high ground.

'God help us - this has never happened to us. I had to jump down from the roof so they could save us, 'said Francisca Almeida, who was gripping the rope tied around a lamppost to avoid being swept away by the water.

Flooded water affects 1 million people in Tabasco.

Many state shelters must also be evacuated due to flooding. Thousands of soldiers and volunteers are now reinforcing the four-lane highway around the capital, if it breaks, 95% of the city will be deep in the water of up to 2m.

The floodwaters flooded half of the giant stone head statues built during the Olmecs era, one of the largest civilizations in America at the state's La Venta archaeological site. Some statues are up to 3m tall. Authorities say all the banana fields and other crops of the Tabasco state have been lost, while 4 of 5 states have sunk in the country.

Floods were caused by storms in the region, causing serious damage to the oil industry along the Gulf of Mexico. Last week at least 21 people were killed in a storm that caused an oil rig to collide with another rig in the Gulf, knocking many workers into the sea.

Some flooded images in Tabasco state:

Part of it was submerged in the water of the state capital of Tabasco.

Water flooded to the roof.

A pig tries to stay on the roof.

The water flooded to half the giant stone head statue.

The lifeguards take people off the roof of a school.

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