About one-third of the population of Chiapas , or about 800,000 people , was directly affected by the flooding , most significantly in Motozintla and Pijijiapan . In Motozintla , near Mexico 's border with Chiapas , a two-day rainfall total of 12 in ( 305 mm ) produced flash floods and mudslides . The rainfall total represented about 36 % of the town 's average annual precipitation . About 600 homes were destroyed in the town alone , and there were 30 fatalities . The rains caused 36 river basins to exceed their banks . Following the floods , officials in Motozintla created a channel to divert flooding . Throughout Chiapas , the floods damaged or destroyed 40 bridges , and there was damage to Mexican Federal Highway 200 along the Pacific coast ; this interrupted travel for several weeks . About 16,000 houses were damaged , forcing about 25,000 people in government shelters . The floods affected of croplands . Overall , damage was estimated at $ 63 million ( 1998 USD ) , representing Mexico 's worst natural disaster since the 1985 Mexico City earthquake . Along Sierra Madre de Chiapas , the disaster was considered a 1 in 50 year event . There were at least 229 deaths , although a government report on the flooding indicated there were over 1000 people killed or missing . After the storm , the Mexican government established a study to determine the cause and the impact of the flooding
1985 Mexico City earthquake
1985 Mexico City earthquake
Tropical Storm Frances (1998)