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Mexico City Logs Record Deluge as Officials Tally Damage and Dispute Totals

City officials credit Plan Tlaloque with faster drainage after a rare, citywide “purple” rainfall footprint.

Overview

  • Authorities reported 34 million cubic meters of rain over more than 24 hours on September 2–3, with gauges detecting 60–70 millimeters across a broad band that SEGIAGUA said was five times larger than the August 10 event.
  • At least 602 homes were affected across multiple alcaldías, and a house‑by‑house census is underway to refine the count and deliver assistance.
  • Emergency crews under Plan Tlaloque reported lowering street ponding in under six hours, with SEGIAGUA deploying 201 personnel and equipment as Protection Civil issued Orange alerts for Gustavo A. Madero and Iztapalapa and Yellow alerts in other districts.
  • The Mexico City International Airport closed for three hours because of the downpour, and continued rains on Wednesday disrupted key roads in Iztapalapa and temporarily limited Metro Line A service to PantitlánGuelatao.
  • Incident tallies diverged across official updates, with reports ranging from 44 to 171 ponding sites and from 34 to 51 fallen trees, while SGIRyPC separately listed 141 ponding reports and 45 trees.