Mexico City floods


Transportation infrastructure hard hit as up to 70 millimeters recorded in Mexico City

The rainy season is in full swing once again in Mexico City where a deluge caused havoc yesterday. Heavy rains lashed the city beginning in the late afternoon, causing flash flooding that stranded motorists in their submerged vehicles, forced the closure of key transportation infrastructure and flooded people's homes. Up to 70 millimeters of rain fell on some parts of the city.

The boroughs of Miguel Hidalgo and Azcapotzalco were the worst hit although the deluge also affected other boroughs and the wider metropolitan area. There have been no reports of fatalities.

Last night Mexico City Mayor Miguel Ángel Mancera stated that 2,000 government workers on 20 teams were working to restore affected roads in the capital. Flooding was particularly severe on the city's most famous boulevard Paseo de la Reforma and important ring road Circuito Interior, with some vehicles completely submerged by the rapidly accumulating waters.

Police and other emergency services came to the rescue of stranded motorists.

The city government also granted free access to the elevated road network known as the segundo piso to relieve traffic congestion after several arterial roads were cut off.

Line 7 of the Metro system was also affected with nine stations closed. Metro chief Jorge Gaviño said that some 30,000 people were affected.

Water inundated tunnels on the line and although pumps were working at their full capacity they couldn't cope so it was decided to suspend service.

The rest of the system remained unaffected.

The river Río de los Remedios also burst its banks, mainly affecting the México State metropolitan municipalities of Naucalpan and Ecatepec.

State authorities deployed the emergency response team Grupo Tláloc — aptly named after the Aztec god of rain — to the area to attend to around 120 homes that were inundated by the rains and consequent flooding of the river. Some families were evacuated to a temporary shelter at a public hospital in Naucalpan.

State Infrastructure Secretary Francisco González Zozaya attributed the flooding to a blocked drainage system caused by an accumulation of trash, a common occurrence in the city.

More rain is forecast for later today possibly accompanied by electrical storms and hail in Mexico City and parts of the State of México although the boss of Mexico City's water system ruled out any possibility of it matching the intensity of yesterday's downpour.

Several other states in the central part of the country are also experiencing wet weather.

Source: CNN Expansión (sp), Milenio (sp)