TIANGUISTENGO, México (AP) — When a river that winds through the mountains of central Mexico suddenly turned into a crushing wall of water this week, it practically wiped the 400-person village of Chapula off the map.

Residents only had time to shout, warning neighbors living along the riverbanks, and desperately seek shelter from the deadly flooding and landslides that have cut off 300 towns in central and eastern Mexico from the outside world.

Thousands of soldiers and workers scrambled Tuesday to rescue civilians and unblock roads.

“There's nothing left. It wiped out houses, it wiped out the bridge, it wiped out everything. The only thing left standing was the church and the warehouse where we were seeking refuge,” said 21-year-old Stephanie Ramírez, who was part of a group of elde

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