Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed videos of alleged cartel operatives handing aid to people affected by massive floods in the country. She cast doubt on the veracity of the images and said that even if they are, that's "not right."
Sheinbaum was being asked about videos posted on social media showing men in army uniforms and rifles handing bags with food from a pickup truck to people approaching. One of the men can be heard screaming "On behalf of the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion."
"We saw the videos. We are not certain they are videos of real (disaster) areas, but that is obviously not right," Sheinbaum said during her daily press conference. "In Poza Rica in Alamo, the heavy machines are arriving to do the cleaning and hoping we can deliver food to the people this weekend," she added.
At least 66 people have died and more remain missing after torrential rains and flooding devastated several regions of Mexico. There have been mass evacuations, bridges have collapsed, and there is growing anger at the government's response.
According to the National Civil Protection Agency, heavy rains triggered by the remnants of Hurricane Priscilla and Tropical Storm Raymond inundated communities across Veracruz, Hidalgo, Puebla, Querétaro, and San Luis Potosí, washing away homes and isolating towns.
President Claudia Sheinbaum visited flood-stricken areas on Monday, pledging federal aid and promising that "no affected family will be left behind." Emergency shelters have been set up for thousands displaced, while authorities warn of potential disease outbreaks due to contaminated water.
Local officials say more than 100,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, and major highways remained closed due to mudslides and bridge collapses.
Authorities have urged caution over unverified reports circulating on social media but admitted that communication with many rural areas was impossible.
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