in the areas have been cutoff due to to krupbling ina * khur. crumbling infrastructure. thousands of people were taken to temporary shelters in alcapulco during the storms. at least 165 people are dead or missing. david mercer has more from southern mexico. >> reporter: thousands of people are finally able to escape from the disaster zone. this critical highway has been closed for near lay week to a collapsed tunnel and it's just opened. this is a huge relief to people who have been trapped in flood-ra*flood-ravageed alcupco. >> we spent three days under a bridge. we couldn't get out. the good thing is we are going back home to see our relative whose are very worried about pups. >> reporter: more than 40,000 tour sr*eus relied on government and civilian aircraft to fly them out. many have waited in lines for days where heat and frustration have caused tensions to rise. with the around 20 to 30,000 vehicles expected to travel out on the high way on friday, the government expects this to release pressure. as these people slowly start to make their way home, more than 35,00