Texas-Mexico Border Floods Kill Four, Leave Hundreds Stranded

Severe storms along the Texas-Mexico border have claimed at least four lives and left hundreds stranded in flooded homes and vehicles as record-breaking rainfall devastated the region.

Rescue operations were ongoing Friday as floodwaters began to recede, but officials warned that the full extent of the destruction in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley was still unfolding.

In Texas, three people were reported dead in Hidalgo County, where more than 53 cm (21 inches) of rain inundated Harlingen. The state’s agriculture commissioner confirmed widespread damage to farms and livestock.

Palm Valley resident Jionni Ochoa, 46, described the flooding inside his home: “The bed is the only thing dry right now. The sofas, everything is soaked.” He and his wife waited for rescue as water reached their knees.

In neighboring Tamaulipas, Mexico, authorities reported that an 83-year-old man drowned in Reynosa. Videos on social media showed military personnel wading through chest-deep floodwaters to assist trapped residents.

First responders in Alamo, Texas, carried out over 100 water rescues, while Weslaco recorded about 36 cm (14 inches) of rainfall, prompting evacuations. Power outages affected thousands, and more than 20 school districts and colleges canceled classes.

Meanwhile, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported that a vehicle suspected of human smuggling attempted to cross a flooded road in Hidalgo County, plunging into a canal. One person drowned, another remains missing.

In Mexico, authorities deployed 640 military personnel to assist flood victims in Reynosa, Rio Bravo, Miguel Alemán, and Matamoros. Power restoration efforts were underway, though the number of affected residents remained unclear.

With floodwaters beginning to subside, officials in both countries cautioned that recovery efforts would take time as they assessed the full impact of the disaster.