Introduction
Intense rainfall on Saturday afternoon caused severe damage in the Magdalena Contreras alcaldía of Mexico City, with 87 properties reported damaged, including 16 with total loss of belongings and 12 with structural damage.
Authorities’ Response
More than 1,200 officials from local and city government agencies were mobilized to address the emergency, with no reported injuries.
Key Figures
Clara Brugada Molina: The head of government for Mexico City, who led a press conference in the affected San Jerónimo Lídice colony.
Fernando Mercado Guaida: The alcalde (mayor) of Magdalena Contreras, who detailed the most affected areas.
Affected Areas and Damages
The most affected areas by the water surge were:
- Lomas Quebradas
- San Jerónimo Lídice
- La Malinche
- Lomas de San Bernabé
In these colonies, water reached up to 1.20 meters in some homes, causing total loss of furniture, household items, and structural damage in at least 12 properties.
The damaged homes are being evaluated by personnel from the Secretariat of Integral Risk Management and Civil Protection (SGIRPC) and the Mexico City Housing Institute.
Besides residential buildings, the San Jerónimo Popular Housing also suffered severe damage, including its gymnasium, machine room, and swimming pool water tanks.
Operations and Support
The capital government activated the Tlaloque program for flood response. Head of Government Clara Brugada mentioned that over 400 people started cleanup efforts Saturday night, with specialized equipment like motobombas, Hércules units, water tankers, and tools to clear drains.
Insurance adjusters from the city government began visiting homes Sunday morning to assess damages and start support management.
The Secretariat of Well-being set up community kitchens to ensure hot meals for affected families, while a temporary shelter was established Saturday at 7:00 PM.
“Within less than 24 hours, more than 70% of the affected homes were addressed, and their residents received institutional support,” said alcalde Fernando Mercado.
Cleaning Barranca La Coyotera
Another intervened area was Barranca La Coyotera in Lomas Quebradas, which collapsed due to the solid waste transport caused by the water’s force.
As a result, the Environmental Secretariat immediately started cleanup works in this natural watercourse as part of an urban barrancas recovery program.
Clara Brugada acknowledged the work of Civil Protection, Heroic Firefighters Corps, and volunteers from the “Cóndores” group who joined cleanup efforts in homes since Saturday afternoon.
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: Who is Clara Brugada Molina? A: She is the head of government for Mexico City, who led a press conference in the affected San Jerónimo Lídice colony.
- Q: What are the most affected areas in Magdalena Contreras? A: Lomas Quebradas, San Jerónimo Lídice, La Malinche, and Lomas de San Bernabé.
- Q: What kind of damages were reported? A: Total loss of furniture, household items, and structural damage in at least 12 properties.
- Q: How many officials were mobilized to address the emergency? A: More than 1,200 officials from local and city government agencies.
- Q: What support was provided to affected families? A: Community kitchens for hot meals and a temporary shelter.
