Heavy rains and saturated subsoil conditions have led to significant flooding across Mérida, Yucatán, disrupting daily life and exposing long-standing infrastructure challenges. The flooding, which intensified during the first week of October 2025, has affected neighborhoods such as Las Américas, Caucel, and parts of the historic center, where streets have turned into rivers and homes have suffered water damage.
Experts point to subsoil saturation as a key factor behind the crisis. Mérida’s shallow water table, combined with record rainfall and urban sprawl, has overwhelmed the city’s drainage systems. The limestone-rich terrain, while porous, becomes less absorbent when saturated, causing rainwater to accumulate rapidly on the surface.
The Mérida City Council has acknowledged the severity of the situation and is reinforcing its stormwater infrastructure. The city currently operates 120,000 ditches, 110,000 collection wells, and 71 cisterns, but officials admit that aging systems and rapid development have outpaced capacity.
Urban planners have called for stricter regulations on construction in flood-prone zones, especially in northern Mérida, where malls and housing developments have expanded over the past two decades. The flooding has also reignited concerns about a potential water crisis in Yucatán, with experts warning that infrastructure failures could lead to shortages by the end of the year.
Residents are urged to report drainage issues and avoid driving through flooded areas. Emergency crews continue to respond to citizen alerts, and cleanup efforts are underway.
As climate change intensifies rainfall patterns, Mérida faces mounting pressure to modernize its water management systems and adopt sustainable urban planning strategies.
Source: Quadratin
