The announcement reverses previous declarations by the President Ernesto Zedillo who had said Mexico could cope with the emergency without outside help. The change in policy follows widespread criticism in Mexico of the government's decision to go it alone, and comes as more flood victims are found. Correspondents say the Mexican Senate urged the government to accept the foreign help once it was clear the damage estimates were much higher than the government funds available for emergency aid. It is believed that more than 400 people have died in the floods. The authorities say the real problem is not a lack of emergency supplies, but the difficulty in getting them to the affected areas.
Many roads are still closed and continuing bad weather is keeping helicopters on the ground.
A BBC correspondent, who is visiting one of the worst-hit areas in the state of Puebla, says many roads are impassable and relief workers are having to try to distribute some aid on foot. Visiting the state of Veracruz, he admitted that relief teams had been unable to provide as much emergency help as people needed. But the president has angrily rejected accusations that the authorities are not doing enough and should seek international aid. Opposition politicians have accused President Zedillo of trying to make political capital out of his people's misery. The threat of disease is growing, and more bad weather is due.