Mexican state of Coahuila hit by flooding, evacuates hundreds, closes bridge on Texas border

Mexican state hit by flooding along Texas border

CIUDAD ACUNA, Mexico — Hundreds of people were evacuated and a border bridge closed in northern Mexico on Monday after days of rain caused flooding and water to swell behind a dam.

Authorities in Coahuila state temporarily closed the border bridge in Ciudad Acuna as a precautionary measure after water released from the Amistad dam raised the level of the Rio Grande.

Ciudad Acuna lies across the border from Del Rio, Texas.

Coahuila Gov. Humberto Moreira told local media that about 10,000 people had suffered severe damage to their homes or possessions due to the flooding.

The release of water from the Amistad dam raised the possibility that river levels could rise downstream in Piedras Negras, a city across the border from Eagle Pass, Texas, and Coahuila authorities evacuated people from settlements near the river as a precaution.

Meanwhile, authorities in neighboring Nuevo Leon state, which was lashed by heavy rains from Hurricane Alex last week, reported that a total of 12 people died in flooding there caused by the storm.

Alex hit Mexico’s Gulf coast on Wednesday as a Category 2 hurricane before weakening into a tropical storm while moving inland. It dissipated Thursday.