Flooding in Mexico Traps 300,000

Over 300,000 Mexicans remain trapped in their homes, victims of the worst flooding to hit the southern state of Tabasco in more than 50 years.

Most of the Mexican state of Tabasco is under water, with one million people in danger. There has so far been just one recorded death.

Taking no chances at understating the gravity of the situation, President Felipe Calderon of Mexico has called the flooding "one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the country." And in a further no-bones-about-it comment, he also said that the flooding situation was "extraordinarily grave."

Elsewhere in Mexico, in the state of Chiapas, 21 people were confirmed dead last week after the oil platform they were on was thrust by storms into another rig in the Gulf of Mexico. Three of Mexico's most important oil ports have been closed, which has halted the movement of nearly all exports, including one fifth of the country's oil production. Thousands of people have been relocated to areas of safety.

As for the weather forecast in the state of Tabasco, it is precisely what the people there did not want to hear: the forecast is for yet more rain in the days to come.