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Heavy Rains Twice Halt Mexico City Airport Operations as Officials Press for Drainage Upgrades

Authorities deployed the reinforced Tlaloque emergency plan to pump floodwaters following two airport shutdowns.

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Overview

  • Mid-August convective storms dumped record pluvial totals—84.5 mm at the Zócalo—and triggered 169 street floods, 66 fallen trees and dozens of flooded homes across multiple alcaldías.
  • AICM suspended landing and takeoff operations twice in under 24 hours, closing runways from 02:13 until partial reopening at 06:00 and full service by 11:00 on August 12.
  • Flight disruptions included 16 diversions, three cancellations and about 120 delays, affecting nearly 19,500 passengers and prompting airlines such as Aeroméxico to urge urgent federal and local fixes.
  • The reinforced Operativo Tlaloque has deployed pumps, vactor trucks and interagency brigades to clear waters, inspect drains and conduct house-by-house damage assessments under color-coded alerts.
  • Officials are calling for accelerated drainage upgrades and expanded 'acupuntura hídrica' infiltration wells to strengthen the aging network and prevent future airport collapses.