Heavy rains on June 2 led to 76 flooding incidents across Mexico City, marking the highest levels since 2017. Operation Tlaloque 2025’s drainage work reduced impacts by 62 percent amid efforts to clear 270 kilometers of pipes.
Mexico City’s drainage system faced its toughest challenge in eight years on the afternoon and evening of Monday, June 2. Torrential downpours—peaking at 70 millimeters in some areas—triggered 76 separate flooding reports across 13 of the capital’s 16 boroughs. Authorities say these rains were the most intense since September 2017, when widespread floods overwhelmed streets and homes. Yet, thanks to Operation Tlaloque 2025, the city weathered the storm considerably better than it did eight years ago.
Local government figures show a 62 percent drop in flooding incidents compared to 2017, when crews scrambled to manage 200 emergencies. From February through May of this year, Operation Tlaloque workers cleared 270 kilometers of drainage pipes along major arteries, loosening blockages and preventing bottlenecks. The Secretariat for Integrated Water Management (Segiagua) reports that cleanup teams have already resolved 84 percent of Monday’s 76 calls, and they expect to finish clearing the remaining cases within hours.
Still, some neighborhoods felt the full force of the deluge. Iztapalapa registered the most flood reports, with 39 calls flooding its streets and side roads. The Ignacio Zaragoza Causeway suffered worst of all—the heavy downpour overwhelmed drainage vents, forcing water onto tracks and bringing Metro Line A service to a standstill. Commuters faced hour-long delays trying to squeeze onto trains or wait for shuttle buses as authorities pumped out standing water.
Across the Miguel Alemán Viaduct and near the Francisco del Paso and Troncoso Rivers, rainwater saturated pipes so quickly that it backed up through vent openings, flooding underpasses and low-lying intersections. Segiagua teams deployed high-capacity pumps to clear these areas, coordinating with traffic control units to redirect vehicles and ease congestion. By early Tuesday, most roads had reopened, though a handful of intersections still bore ankle-deep puddles.
Flooding also hit medical facilities. Zoé Robledo, head of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), confirmed that accumulated water caused a wall to collapse at General Hospital of Zone No. 53 in Los Reyes, La Paz. The breach let water spill into several wards, forcing staff to evacuate patients and relocate sensitive equipment. Hospital administrators scrambled to repair damage and restore services, but some outpatient appointments were postponed as cleanup crews worked through the night.
Municipal authorities from Azcapotzalco to Xochimilco sprang into action as the rains intensified. In Coyoacán and Benito Juárez, workers staked out clogged storm drains, manually removing leaves and debris to accelerate water flow. In Iztacalco and Iztapalapa, firefighters blocked off flooded side streets and guided residents away from submerged sidewalks. Cuajimalpa and Cuauhtémoc teams focused on pumping water out of underpasses near business districts, preventing retail stores from suffering water damage.
Miguel Hidalgo, Gustavo A. Madero, Tláhuac, Tlalpan, and Venustiano Carranza also logged multiple incidents—broken sewer grates, flooded bus stops, and stalled cars stranded in chest-high water. Emergency crews provided assistance where possible, using inflatable boats to rescue motorists trapped by rising floods. Despite the scale of damage, no fatalities have been reported. City officials credit Operation Tlaloque’s proactive approach for avoiding tragedy this time around.
Mayor Clara Brugada took to social media Tuesday morning to urge residents to stay vigilant. “Heavy rains will continue today, mainly in the eastern region,” she wrote. “We ask citizens to follow instructions from authorities, avoid going out unless necessary, not park near trees or unstable structures, and refrain from walking through parks, wooded areas, or construction zones. Inter-institutional coordination, with the #Tlaloque 2025 Protocol, strengthens our response capacity.” Her warning carries added weight because weather forecasts predict more showers through mid-week, especially in Iztapalapa and Tláhuac.
Segiagua’s director said crews remain on standby around the clock. “Our strategy is simple: clear as many pipes as possible before each storm, then dispatch teams immediately when reports come in,” he explained. “We have nearly 300 kilometers of drainage lines to monitor, and any blockages could spell trouble. Operation Tlaloque has made a real difference, but we can’t let our guard down.” Residents in some flood-prone neighborhoods maintain a wary eye on the skies, recalling how fast streets turned into rivers in 2017.
The difference between 2017 and 2025 lies in that pre-emptive cleaning. Back then, authorities raced against time, patching burst pipes and setting up emergency shelters. Now, they lean on data from past incidents to focus on hotspots: underpasses, riverbeds, and low-lying roads. Local experts say the key is consistent maintenance, not just reactive repairs. “We learned the hard way that a single blocked grate can flood an entire block,” noted a senior Segiagua engineer. “Operation Tlaloque shows that investing in prevention pays off.”
Still, no system is infallible. As long as weather patterns grow more volatile, Mexico City’s aging infrastructure faces added strain. Climate analysts warn that rainfall intensity could increase further by decade’s end. Meanwhile, city leaders plan to expand Operation Tlaloque in 2026, targeting smaller, secondary drains that often slip under the radar. Their goal: slash flooding incidents by another 40 percent within two years. Residents hope these efforts stick.
For now, crews work to pump out the final puddles and clear mud-caked streets. Commuters resume their routines, albeit warily, glancing at storm drains and scanning weather apps. The June 2 rains reminded everyone just how quickly Mexico City can go from monsoon to marshland—but they also showed how far the city has come since 2017. When next storm clouds gather, authorities say they’ll be ready.
