Hurricane Dolly washes away roads and bridges in Mexico

2008-07-30 22:02:22 (GMT) (WiredPRNews.com - Weather)

Mexico City, Mexico (WiredPRNews.com) — Flooding caused by heavy rainfall from the remains of Hurricane Dolly kept large numbers of evacuees away from their homes and camp-grounds.

Rio Ruidoso was running high and muddy through Monday, with water flooding over roads on to low lying areas. The major thoroughfare in the middle of Ruidoso, Paradise Canyon Road, was partially drained away, while two mud-covered houses sat askew sponged from their foundation.

Approximately 350-500 houses, mobile homes, structures and campers were damaged due to the floods. The business district of Ruidoso’s was mostly untouched, as a majority of the damages happened to roads and bridges of residential areas.

According to public officials, 300-500 individuals were evacuated from homes, recreational vehicle parks and campgrounds after Rio Ruidoso went above its banks on Sunday and were not able to return on Monday.

The State Department of Public Safety said, “If Noah’d been around, it would have been good to build an ark.”

A spokesperson for the state of New Mexico said, “The authorities on the starting of the week discovered a male body of 20 years of age, which was reported to be swept away with the high water on Sunday.” He added that an unidentified number of the population remained stranded due to washed out bridges and roads.

Almost nine bridges were accounted under the water and several roads were bunged while U.S. 70, the area’s prime highway, was reopened on Monday.

Tom Schafer, the Ruidoso’s emergency management coordinator, added there were more than twenty rescues on Sunday, the majority from vehicles and a few from houses. A large number of people were attempting to get through the deep-water areas but got struck.

In addition, the crew from the National Guard helicopter rescued approximately two dozen campers who were stranded by the high water.

Wired Weather Reporter