2025.10.12 – How Poza Rica Faced the Floods: Verified Accounts, ADO (Autobuses de Oriente) Route Suspensions, and the Chain of Solidarity

Key Takeaways

• Unprecedented rains from Tropical Storms Raymond and Priscilla caused the Cazones River to overflow, flooding Poza Rica, Veracruz.
• ADO (Autobuses de Oriente) suspended its main intercity routes across northern Veracruz and nearby Gulf cities for safety.
• Eyewitness descriptions of flooded homes, stranded families, and community relief align with independent reports from major media.
• Death toll estimates range between 28 and 41 as of 12 October 2025 at 10:41 a.m. Netherlands time.
• Communities are still calling for essential donations: clothing, shoes, hygiene supplies, cleaning products, nonperishable food, and bottled water.

Story & Details

Voices from Poza Rica (translated from Spanish)

Residents described waking up to water covering streets and markets after the Cazones River broke its banks.
Entire neighborhoods disappeared under brown water, cars drifted into trees, and people climbed onto roofs to wait for rescue.
The Central de Abastos (Wholesale Market District), Arroyo Garibaldi, and the lower downtown areas were among the most affected.
Neighbors shared appeals for help, asking for dry clothes, food, and basic supplies to be brought to nearby parishes and community centers.
Volunteers and oil workers joined rescue brigades to help those trapped in their homes.

What Verification Shows

Major outlets including Associated Press, Reuters, El País, Infobae, and NMÁS confirm these scenes.
Heavy rainfall from Raymond and Priscilla inundated more than fifty municipalities across Veracruz.
In Poza Rica, the Cazones River rose more than four meters above its normal level.
Power and water systems failed, and bridges were temporarily closed.
The Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) began restoring power as flood levels receded.
ADO (Autobuses de Oriente) announced temporary route suspensions affecting Poza Rica, Papantla, Tuxpan, Cerro Azul, Naranjos, Martínez de la Torre, Tantoyuca, and Tampico.
By late 11 October 2025 (Mexico) / early 12 October 2025 (Netherlands), cleanup efforts began while residents counted losses.

Differences Among Reports

Media outlets differ slightly on figures but describe the same catastrophe:

• Fatalities: between 28 (Reuters) and 41 (Associated Press).
• Affected municipalities: between 40 and 55, all naming Poza Rica and Álamo as hardest hit.
  The differences reflect timing of publication rather than contradiction.

Human Response and Recovery

Citizens formed spontaneous aid networks.
They collected clothes, food, and medicine, and delivered them to the DIF (National System for Integral Family Development) centers and parishes.
Public announcements urged donors to prioritize hygiene and cleaning supplies as contamination spread.
Authorities asked travelers to verify ADO schedules and official road updates before departing, since several highways remained unsafe.
The CFE gradually restored electricity in hospitals and key shelters.
Many volunteers continue to clear mud and debris, showing the community’s resilience.

Entities & Roles Index

• ADO (Autobuses de Oriente): intercity bus company; suspended operations during flooding.
• CFE (Federal Electricity Commission): national utility leading electricity restoration.
• DIF (National System for Integral Family Development): welfare organization managing shelters and aid collection.
• Cazones River / Arroyo Garibaldi: waterways responsible for overflow and flooding.
• Poza Rica and Álamo, Veracruz: municipalities most affected.
• National and international media: Associated Press, Reuters, El País, Infobae, NMÁS, El Universal — verified information sources.

Chronology (Europe/Amsterdam Time)

• 10 October 2025: Flooding begins in Poza Rica; ADO suspends routes. (Netherlands: evening 10 October / early 11 October)
• 11 October 2025: River levels start falling; first official fatality counts appear. (Netherlands: 11 – 12 October)
• 12 October 2025 at 10:41 a.m. (Netherlands time): Updated and verified situation; relief operations ongoing.

Conclusions

The flooding of Poza Rica stands as one of Veracruz’s most destructive weather events in years.
The Cazones River overflow, intensified by Tropical Storms Raymond and Priscilla, devastated homes and infrastructure, isolating neighborhoods and prompting national rescue efforts.
Despite discrepancies in casualty totals, every reliable outlet confirms the magnitude of loss and solidarity that followed.
Recovery remains slow, but the social fabric of the region—neighbors feeding each other, rebuilding side by side—has become its strongest defense against despair.

Sources

• Associated Press — “Heavy rain in Mexico sets off floods and landslides, killing at least 41.”
  https://apnews.com/article/3ade24258fd08b2f13092157a37874bc
• Reuters — “Heavy rains in Mexico leave nearly 30 dead.”
  https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/heavy-rains-mexico-leave-more-than-20-dead-2025-10-10/
• El País — “Mexico floods: rains leave dozens dead; emergency in several states.”
  https://elpais.com/mexico/2025-10-11/mexico-se-inunda-las-lluvias-dejan-personas-muertas-y-emergencia-en-varios-estados.html
• Infobae — “Poza Rica and Álamo, the municipalities most affected in Veracruz by Tropical Storm Raymond.”
  https://www.infobae.com/mexico/2025/10/11/poza-rica-y-alamo-los-municipios-mas-afectados-en-veracruz-por-tormenta-tropical-raymond/
• Informador — “ADO suspends service in these cities due to Tropical Storm Raymond.”
  https://www.informador.mx/mexico/ADO-suspende-servicio-en-estas-ciudades-por-paso-de-la-tormenta-tropical-Raymond-20251010-0199.html
• El Universal (YouTube) — “Flooding in Poza Rica leaves moving images.” (Verified video, active as of delivery.)
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2iS7TxwVmA
• El Heraldo de México (YouTube) — “80 percent of Veracruz under water! Poza Rica devastated after the Cazones River overflowed.” (Verified video, active as of delivery.)
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILs9iUgz7ZY

Appendix

Translation — “Central de Abastos” (translated from Spanish)

“Wholesale Market District / Central Supply Market.”
Meaning: Commercial area that suffered severe flooding.

Definition — ADO (Autobuses de Oriente)

Mexican intercity bus company that temporarily halted services for safety during the storm.

Definition — CFE (Federal Electricity Commission)

National electric utility responsible for restoring power after the floods.

Definition — DIF (National System for Integral Family Development)

Public welfare institution coordinating shelters and aid distribution for affected families.