88 schools in northern Mexico being kept closed because of mine's acid spill into 2 rivers

MEXICO CITY – Authorities in a northern Mexico state say 88 schools will not open Monday along with the rest of the country because of the danger of water contaminated by the spill of 10 million gallons (40,000 cubic meters) of acids from a copper mine into two rivers this month.

Sonora state civil protection director Carlos Arias says schools in the seven municipalities most affected by the Aug. 6 spill may be able to open in a week, once officials ensure safe drinking water for students.

Officials have distributed more than 1 million gallons (4 million liters) of drinking water over the past week using tanker trucks, reaching 80 percent to 90 percent of people in the area. Arias said Sunday they have not yet reached people who live in isolated communities.