Surprise floods kill 31 in Mexican town

RAGING flood waters killed at least 31 people on Monday when they crashed through a normally arid town in northern Mexico close to the US border.

The surprise flood caused by unusually heavy rain swept away people and buried homes and cars in the town of Piedras Negras, across the Rio Grande from Texas.

“So far we've counted 31 people who have lost their lives,” Piedras Negras Mayor Claudio Bres said. At least 40 people are still missing.

Concrete homes stood under several feet of murky water, cars perched on top of caved in buildings and debris lay strewn across the roads in what is usually one of the driest parts of the country.

Rescuers recovered a man's body from a tree. He was apparently the victim of a heart attack.

An infant was found too late in a tangle of branches and debris under a bridge.

“Everything was very fast,” 32-year-old housewife Rosa Beltran said as she returned home to gather some remaining valuables. “In less than five minutes the power went, and going out into the street the water came up to my knees.”

“Many homes have been destroyed and vehicles left stranded, and people are still being rescued from houses and trees,” said Red Cross spokeswoman Irma Enriquez.

Eighteen people were officially missing after the nearby Escondido River broke its banks due to heavy rainfall overnight, but authorities said they thought many people had not yet reported the loss of family members.

Coahuila state Governor Enrique Martinez said no more flooding was expected.