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A major tornado ripped through the Mexican border town of Ciudad Acuña, in the state of Coahuila, killing 13 people and injuring close to 200, while destroying over 750 homes, local officials reported Monday.
Across the border, in the United States, the tornado caused severe flooding, killed four people and left dozens missing.
The strong winds overturned vehicles and seriously damaged buildings.
Maria del Rosario Ramirez, a local resident, told Mexican newspaper La Jornada, “There are cars on top of houses, there are dead people lying in the street, it is total chaos."
President Enrique Peña Nieto and the Governor of Coahuila Ruben Moreira visited the affected area. Moreira said 10 adults and three children were killed, and that a baby was missing. He added that over 290 people were taken to hospitals, but that only 45 are still being treated for injuries.
Local officials said most of those who died were walking in streets of the city when the tornado hit Ciudad Acuña. The said the baby that is missing was torn from its mother's arms by a sudden gust of wind, state Interior Secretary Victor Zamora told AP news agency.
The missing baby's child carrier was ripped from its mother's hands by a sudden gust of wind, Coahuila state Interior Secretary Victor Zamora told the AP news agency.
Peña Nieto promised people affected by the lethal storm that the federal government would rebuild the city.
The winds reached speeds of up to 186 mph, according to meteorologists.
Rescue efforts were still being carried out as teams were searching for survivors through the more than 750 damaged buildings.
In the southern United States, alerts stretched from Colorado through to Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri and eastern Kansas.
In Texas, 12 people remained missing after flash floods struck the Blanco river.
The Governor of Texas Greg Abbot declared a state of disaster in 24 counties.
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