Heavy rainfall forces opening of two major reservoirs flooding communities in northern Mexico

Heavy rainfall forced authorities to open two major Rio Grande reservoirs on 8 July 2010, flooding communities in southern Texas and northern Mexico and disrupting transportation between the U.S. and Mexico. In Laredo, Texas, the river reached 34.4 ft/10.5 m above flood level (Rio Grande's flood level in Laredo is 8 ft/2.4 m). Two international bridges that link the U.S. and Mexico in the Laredo area remain closed on 9 July, while a few vehicles at a time are allowed to cross the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge Two. Border crossing points in Reynosa and Matamoros are operating normally. Mexican authorities declared a state of emergency for an additional 12 municipalities in the state of Nuevo Leon, bringing to 43 the number of municipalities that are under a state of emergency. In addition, 25 municipalities in the state of Tamaulipas and 19 in Coahuila are under a state of emergency. Additional rainfall is forecast for parts of the border area during 9-10 July.