For three weeks, thousands of residents of Chalco, a city of 174,700 inhabitants located in the State of Mexico, have been living in dire conditions due to severe flooding caused by unusually torrential rains.
The ongoing disaster has led to widespread health problems, forced evacuations, and increasing demands for government intervention.
On Wednesday, Mexican Red Cross teams that traveled through flooded streets by boat rescued 64 residents from the worst-hit areas, bringing the total number of citizens rescued to more than 1,100 so far.
Most of the evacuees were taken to one of four temporary shelters, where they were provided with showers, basic medical care, food, and other essential services. Wednesday’s operation also included the rescue of pets, some of which had been without food or water for days.
However, despite living in stagnant, contaminated water for days, many of the 3,600 affected residents refused to leave their homes for fear of being looted.
Some of these people are receiving help from residents of non-flooded areas who have taken it upon themselves to prepare and distribute hot meals by boat to those trapped in their homes.
“There were 16 children in a building who were so relieved when we brought them food,” Verónica Urbina, a local volunteer, told La Jornada newspaper. She also said the community solidarity had provided some comfort amid what could escalate into a full-scale public health crisis.
The situation has become increasingly desperate, and complaints from residents have multiplied. During her visits to the flooded area, Mexico’s governor, Delfina Gómez Álvarez, has had to deal with residents angry at the apparent inaction of federal and state authorities.
Mayor José Miguel Gutiérrez, who, like Gómez, is a member of the Morena party, urgently requested the declaration of a state of emergency.
With information from Excelsior
San Miguel Times
Newsroom
