Tabasco, Mexico: More than 300,000 people are believed to be trapped in their homes after severe flooding hit the southern Mexican state of Tabasco.

A huge rescue operation has begun after torrential rains caused widespread flooding in the region.

One person has been confirmed dead so far but more than 1m are thought to have been affected by the floods.

Dramatic rooftop helicopter rescues are being seen on television.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon called it "one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the country."

Tabasco Governor Andres Granier described it as “just like New Orleans''.

He said 70 per cent of the state was flooded and that they had lost all of their crops in the rains.