Severe flooding led to the death of 17 people, most of whom had COVID-19, at a hospital in the central Mexican state of Hidalgo after torrential rains caused the River Tula to burst its banks, authorities said on Tuesday.

After the river burst its banks, water cut the power supply at the hospital in the town of Tula. Some of the victims were Covid-19 patients who were being treated with oxygen therapy, local media reported.

More than 40 other patients were evacuated by emergency service workers, and an initial assessment showed about 2,000 houses had flood damage, the Mexican government said in a statement.

The army was also deployed to provide assistance to rescue teams dealing with the disaster.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador urged on Twitter residents at risk to seek out shelters, areas of higher ground or to go to friends or relatives. "A lot of rain has fallen in the Valley of Mexico and it will keep raining," he said, expressing his sadness over the hospital deaths.

En este encargo tan honroso hay días buenos, muy buenos, malos y muy malos; hoy es un día de estos últimos. Me da mucha tristeza el fallecimiento de 17 pacientes del hospital del IMSS por el desbordamiento del río Tula en Hidalgo. 1/2

— Andrés Manuel (@lopezobrador_) September 7, 2021