Dams in northern Mexico reach capacity, spill over

MEXICO CITY (AP) -- More than a dozen dams in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua are at capacity or spilling over.

Mexico's Environmental Department said Tuesday in a statement that officials are monitoring the dams, especially as Hurricane Ike prepares to dump more rain on the region. Some of the extra water is being released into the Rio Grande to help pay back Mexico's water debt to Texas.

If any dams appear they might fail, authorities say they will work with local officials to evacuate communities.

Elsewhere, rains have caused a landslide that buried a small community eastern Mexico, killing a woman and her 3-year-old son.

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