Introduction
In 2025, Mexico and the world faced a series of natural disasters that tested the resilience of both government authorities and the population against any future adversity. Here are seven significant events that left their mark on history:
Hurricane Erick
In mid-June, Hurricane Erick formed in the Pacific Ocean and made landfall on June 19 in Pinotepa Nacional, Oaxaca. The hurricane caused flooding and landslides in Oaxaca and Guerrero, affecting local communities.
Hurricane Erick hit the Afro-Mexican communities of Oaxaca’s Costa Chica and Guerrero hard. Credit: EE
Historical Rainfall in Mexico City
On the evening of September 28, a warning was issued for what was to come in the following days. The storm that raged for over two and a half hours in Iztapalapa, Tláhuac, and Venustiano Carranza caused severe flooding, suspended public transportation (including the Metro’s Line A), and collapsed traffic on Calzada Ignacio Zaragoza.
Heavy rains in Mexico City.
Cylones Priscilla and Raymond
In the first half of October 2025, Cylones Priscilla and Raymond caused intense to torrential rains in six Mexican states: Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, and Tamaulipas. These states suffered significant damage to their infrastructure, with 65 reported deaths and many more missing.
Although heavy rains affected almost the entire Mexican Republic, Chiapas also faced the climate’s wrath with road damage and isolated communities. However, it wasn’t until November that the mountainous region could not withstand more, and river overflows left over 230 families displaced.
Despite this situation, the positive side of the rainy and hurricane season was that Mexico’s severe drought significantly reduced, allowing reservoirs to nearly reach 100% capacity. Additionally, reports of wildfires decreased.
Hurricane Raymond’s passage left impacts across Mexico. Photo:
Los Angeles, California, USA
Los Angeles, California began 2025 amidst intense fires that were uncontrolled until the last week of January. The final tally was over 400 deaths and substantial material damage.
Later, in late July and early August, a heatwave sparked fires that forced the closure of the north side of the famous Grand Canyon for the rest of the tourist season.
Hurricane Melissa Hits the Caribbean
Melissa devastated three Caribbean nations: Haiti, Jamaica, and Cuba. It flooded Haiti, destroyed Jamaica, and left parts of Cuba in ruins.
Melissa was the strongest storm to make direct landfall in Jamaica since 1988, with AccuWeather estimating between $48 billion and $52 billion in damages and economic losses across the western Caribbean.
Melissa, the worst Atlantic storm in nearly a century, left dozens dead in Haiti and Jamaica, and parts of Cuba in ruins. Credit: EE
7.7 Magnitude Earthquake in Myanmar
On March 28, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Myanmar, leaving an official toll of 3,100 deaths, 17 million affected, and 21,000 destroyed or damaged homes. There were also 4,600 injuries reported.
The death toll from the March 28 earthquake in Myanmar surpassed 3,000 people. Credit: EE
Earthquake in Afghanistan Causes Thousands of Deaths
On August 31, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake hit Afghanistan, resulting in 2,205 deaths, over 3,640 injuries, and around 6,700 completely destroyed homes.
The tragedy worsened when it was discovered that children and women made up the majority of both the injured and the deceased.
Asia Concludes the Year with Floods
Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand (Southeast Asia), and Sri Lanka (South Asia) were affected in December by intense tropical storms and monsoon rains, causing landslides, soil erosion, and sudden flooding.
Indonesia’s flood and landslide balance reached 1,003 deaths, 218 missing, and over 5,400 injuries in Sumatra’s North, West, and Aceh.
Indonesian National Armed Forces help in the environmental recovery of a residential area affected by sudden flooding in Aek Garoga village, December 27, 2025. Credit:
Natural Disasters of 2025: A Year of Challenges for Mexico and the World
In 2025, Mexico and the world faced a series of natural disasters that tested the resilience of both government authorities and the population against any future adversity. Here are seven significant events that left their mark on history.
