Mexican floods produce vast problems

VILAHERMOSA, Mexico, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Authorities in the Mexican state of Tabasco are struggling to deal with widespread looting and escalating health problems following recent flooding.

With officials growing increasingly concerned with looting and the rising number of sick residents in the state, scores of police officers and medical personnel arrived on Tuesday to aid in the post-floods effort, The New York Times reported.

As the new workers arrived across Tabasco, large portions of which currently are underwater, rescuers desperately searched for the victims of a recent mudslide in the state of Chiapas.

Sunday's mudslide, that was caused by heavy rains throughout the region, has left 16 people missing in the neighboring state.

Without taking into account those missing residents, the current death toll for the regional floods has remained under 10 for both states.

The Times said while the floodwaters have begun to recede, officials are still struggling to house those forced from their homes and to provide flood victims with medicine and bottled water.