Torrential Rains Paralyze Mexico City Airport for Second Consecutive Day

Date: December 8, 2023

Unrelenting torrential rains have brought operations to a near standstill at Mexico City’s Benito Juarez International Airport, one of the busiest travel hubs in Latin America. For the second consecutive day, the airport has faced severe disruptions, affecting roughly 20,000 passengers.

Impact on Airport Operations

Early on Tuesday, airport authorities were compelled to suspend flights for at least four hours, leading to a ripple effect of delays and cancellations. By midday, although the runways were cleared for operations, the backlog of flights created extensive disruptions. Passengers, many of whom had been waiting since the weekend, faced a logistical nightmare as they scrambled to rebook or find alternative travel arrangements.

Passenger Ordeals

Alicia Nicanor, a 69-year-old passenger, shared her frustrating experience of having her flight to Tijuana cancelled twice. Her testimony underscores the personal impact of the airport’s paralysis, highlighting the disruption to essential travel plans and the lack of adequate response from the authorities in managing the crisis.

Historical Rainfall Records

The intensity of the current rainy season has not only affected the airport but also led to widespread flooding across Mexico City. Mayor Clara Brugada reported that the city’s main plaza, the Zocalo, was submerged under more than 76mm (3 inches) of water within just 20 minutes on Sunday, breaking a rainfall record set in 1952.

Infrastructure Challenges

The severe flooding has reignited criticism of the city’s infrastructure and governance. Videos circulating on social media show cars floating on flooded streets in the southern parts of the city, pointing to significant failures in urban planning and disaster preparedness.

Conclusion

The ongoing weather conditions in Mexico City pose serious challenges to its infrastructure and the daily lives of its residents. As the city grapples with this extreme weather, the repeated disruptions at Benito Juarez International Airport serve as a stark reminder of the broader implications of climate-related events on urban centers. Authorities continue to work on mitigating the impact, but the situation remains fluid, with potential long-term consequences for the city’s travel and economic sectors.