Brooms, dustpans, mops and buckets were not enough to stop the water flooding their businesses and homes, repeating the yearly damage of their properties.
The inhabitants of the neighborhoods Ejército ISSSTE, U.H. Vicente Guerrero, Ejército de Oriente, Desarrollo Urbano Quetzalcóatl, Renovación and Santa María Aztahuacán, all in the Iztapalapa borough, tried to stop the water from getting under their doors following the intense rain on Wednesday that lasted almost two hours. Such rainfalls hadn’t occurred since 2013, according to borough authorities. Residents, however, disputed this claim.
“It isn’t true, every year it floods and we are affected, but this year in particular the rain beat most authorities, because they reacted five hours late,” pointed out Isamair Ramírez, owner of a shop in the Unidad Habitacional Vicente Guerrero neighborhood.
In a matter of minutes the drainage was saturated and water overflowed, reaching 40 centimeters (16 inches) in some parts. This led the local authorities to install six shelters in libraries and sporting facilities. Only one person made use of them.
Some residents complained that, despite authorities being notified since 10 p.m., response and actions by workers took place only seven hours later.
“No one has come here, we asked for support in the middle of the night, so they would close the street and we could rescue some belongings, but twelve hours have gone by and no one has come to help us,” pointed out Miss María del Carmen Guerrero.
In the most damaged homes and businesses, material losses amounted to 20,000 pesos ($1000), counting furniture, mattresses, clothes and merchandise, according to owners.
Iztapalapa borough president Dione Anguiano announced that she would request the central government provide funds for those affected. Residents said that last time this had meant mattresses being distributed, while they would prefer credits to replace their merchandise.
The News
