A severe hailstorm has destroyed approximately 170 hectares of crops in the Izta-Popo area, leaving dozens of farmers facing significant losses. The storm, which struck suddenly, battered fields with heavy ice, damaging maize, beans, and other staple crops that local communities depend on for both consumption and income.
Municipal authorities reported that the hailstorm affected several communities near the slopes of the Iztaccíhuatl and Popocatépetl volcanoes, where agriculture is a primary source of livelihood. Farmers described the event as one of the most destructive in recent years, noting that entire fields were left unusable within minutes.
Local officials from the Secretaría de Desarrollo Rural have begun assessing the damage, though no official estimate of economic losses has yet been released. Emergency support measures, including food aid and potential financial assistance, are being considered to help families recover.
Community leaders emphasized the urgent need for government intervention, pointing out that many small-scale producers lack insurance or resources to withstand such disasters. They also highlighted the broader impact on regional food supply and local markets, which rely heavily on these crops.
The hailstorm underscores the vulnerability of rural communities to extreme weather events, which experts warn are becoming more frequent due to climate change. Farmers in the Izta-Popo region now face the challenge of rebuilding their livelihoods amid uncertainty about future harvests.
The sudden hailstorm has left a trail of destruction across 170 hectares of farmland, raising concerns about food security and the resilience of rural economies in Puebla.
Source: OEM
