Trapped Mexican bakers make pan dulce for hundreds of Harvey victims over two days

Four bakers who became trapped in their bakery for two days in the wake of Hurricane Harvey made hundreds of loaves of bread to give to flood victims.

The workers from the El Bolillo Bakery in Houston, Texas, used up nearly 2,000kg of flour to bake bread and pan dulce, Mexican sweet bread, throughout the night and day after they were left stranded by the floods over the weekend.

The four bakers had been working on a late shift when they realised they could not leave the shop because of the level of water on the streets.

Three of the four bakers who were trapped inside the El Bolillo Bakery for two days because of the floods in Houston and made hundreds of loaves for flood victims. (El Bolillo Bakery)

To take their minds off worrying about their family and friends, they decided to continue to bake for those affected by the devastating downpours.

The Mexican bakery, which specialises in Mexican cakes and patisseries, had remained dry and had not been cut off from electricity so the bakers were able to work throughout the night and the following day.

Brian Alvarado, the manager of the shop on South Wayside Drive, told The Independent: "When they realised they were stuck, they decided to keep themselves busy and help the community and made as many loaves of bread as they could.

"By the time the owner managed to get to them, they had made so much bread that we took the loaves to loads of emergency centres across the city for people affected by the floods.

"We didn't count exactly how many loaves they made, but they used 4,400 pounds [1,996kg] of flour."

19 show all The aftermath of Hurricane Harvey

1/19 A tattered U.S. flag damaged in Hurricane Harvey, flies in Conroe, Texas Reuters

2/19 Lisa Rehr holds her four-year old son Maximus, after they lost their home to Hurricane Harvey, as they await to be evacuated with their belongings from Rockport, Texas Reuters

3/19 People line up for food as others rest at the George R. Brown Convention Center AP Photo/LM Otero

4/19 Volunteers with The American Red Cross register evacuees at the George R. Brown Convention Center Reuters/Nick Oxford

5/19 Soldiers with the Texas Army National Guard help the residents of Cyprus Creek Reuters

6/19 Residents wade through floodwater Reuters/Nick Oxford

7/19 Residents walk along the flooded roadway of Texas 249 as they evacuate their adjacent neighborhoods EPA

8/19 A man floats past a truck submerged on a freeway flooded by Tropical Storm Harvey on Sunday AP

9/19 People are rescued by airboat as they evacuate from flood waters from Hurricane Harvey in Dickinson, Texas Reuters

10/19 James Archiable carries his bike through the flooded intersection at Taylor and Usenet near downtown Houston, Texas EPA

11/19 A massive sinkhole opened up on a motorway in Rosenburg, a city 25 miles southwest of Houston, Texas Rosenberg Police

12/19 People are rescued from flood waters from Hurricane Harvey in an armored police mine-resistant ambush protected vehicle in Dickinson, Texas Reuters

13/19 People are rescued from flood waters from Hurricane Harvey on a boat in Dickinson, Texas Reuters

14/19 Evacuees are airlifted in a US Coast Guard helicopter after flooding due to Hurricane Harvey inundated neighborhoods in Houston, Texas Reuters

15/19 Evacuees leave a US Coast Guard helicopter after being rescued from flooding due to Hurricane Harvey in Houston, Texas Reuters

16/19 Residents look on at a submerged motorway during a break in the rain in Houston, Texas EPA

17/19 People photograph the submerged motorway interchange EPA

18/19 Debris lies on the ground after a building was destroyed by Hurricane Harvey in Aransas Pass, Texas AP

19/19 Dominic Dominguez searches for his boat in a boat storage facility that was heavily damaged by Hurricane Harvey near Rockport, Texas EPA

Although one of the bakers experienced some damage to his home because of the floods, the others returned to dry properties, Mr Alvarado said.

Thousands of people reacted to the baker's "heartwarming" feat on social media, hailing the bakers as "heroes" and praising their "big hearts" and "great community service".

Writing on Facebook, Debby Goforth said: "Hats off to you. What an inspiration you guys are!"

Eddie Gurbisz added: "Awesome job guys! Can't say enough good things about what you've done for the people of Houston! Much love and respect."