Nov. 4 (Bloomberg) -- Mexico's Red Cross is preparing for a possible outbreak of cholera or other water-borne diseases in the southern state of Tabasco, where flooding has displaced 800,000.

``The outlook for the disaster is not short term,'' Daniel Goni Diaz, national president of the disaster-relief agency, said in an interview from Mexico City. ``It would be almost impossible that we don't see some kind of disease outbreak.''

Aid workers and Tabasco residents got a respite from rain today, while forecasts predicted a chance of rain. Six days of flooding left 80 percent of the state under water, about 800,000 people without homes and more than 100,000 in government shelters.

No one has died in Tabasco, a state on the Gulf Coast, or in neighboring Chiapas state as a direct result of the flooding, Goni said. He said it was too early to estimate economic losses.

Rescuers estimated 80,000 people may still be stranded in rural areas of Tabasco and Chiapas, clustered on hills in small groups, Reforma newspaper reported, citing military officials. Helicopters are dropping food and water to people who can't be reached by boat, the newspaper said.

Forty-four people have been arrested for looting after six supermarkets, two storage trailers and several houses were burglarized, Reforma reported. At one supermarket north of Villahermosa, the capital of Tabasco, flood victims took food, clothes, toilet paper and diapers. Military personnel on the scene closed the store and allowed them to leave with the merchandise, Reforma said.

Villahermosa Under Water

Villahermosa, located some 430 miles (692 kilometers) southeast of Mexico City, is almost completely flooded, Mari Garcia, a worker in the local emergency administration, said in an interview yesterday. Fifteen of the state's 17 largest cities were under water, she said.

River levels receded somewhat over the past 24 hours, El Universal newspaper said, citing Governor Andres Granier Melo.

Much of the state, including Villahermosa, remained without potable water and some telecommunications were down. Villahermosa's water-treatment plant has re-established service to 30 percent of the population, the National Water Commission said in an e-mailed statement.

President Felipe Calderon plans to visit the region today.

``This is the worst disaster in Mexico's recent history,'' Erica Dahl-Bredine, a representative of Catholic Relief Services in Mexico, said in an e-mailed statement.

World Vision, another relief agency operating in the area, said there's an urgent need for potable water and sanitary supplies to help reduce the risk of disease outbreaks.

Cash Donations

Heavy rains soaked the area earlier this week and flooding worsened when a dam burst near the border of Chiapas and Tabasco. Four people died as a result of the flooding in Chiapas and more than 4,200 homes are damaged in that state, Reforma said on its Web site. Goni said the Red Cross wasn't able to verify that the deaths were directly related to the flooding.

The Weather Channel's Web site predicts a 20 percent chance of rain in Villahermosa today. Previous forecasts predicted thunderstorms.

The local chapter of the Red Cross and other relief organizations are accepting donations of food, water, clothes and hygiene items. The U.S. government will donate $300,000 for disaster-relief efforts in the region, newspaper El Universal reported, citing U.S. embassy spokeswoman Judith Bryan.

As many as 40 centimeters (15.7 inches) of rain fell from Oct. 29 through Nov. 1, according to the National Water Commission. That is about 82 percent more than the average rainfall in Tabasco for the whole month.

``Right now it is impossible to begin recovering the economic stability of the state, and it won't be possible for a long time,'' Goni said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Patrick Harrington in Mexico City at pharrington8@bloomberg.net; Brendan Walsh in Mexico City at Bwalsh8@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: November 4, 2007 12:23 EST