Heavy rains and hail cause fatal flooding and landslides in Oaxaca and Jalisco, Mexico

Heavy downpours hit Mexico's southern states of Jalisco and Oaxaca this week, resulting in fatal flooding and landslides. In Oaxaca, two casualties were reported as flooding damaged houses and roads. In Jalisco, a hailstorm struck the Guadalajara and Zapopan municipalities, causing severe flooding up to 1 m (3 feet) high.

The State Civil Protection reported two fatalities in the municipality of Huautla de Jimenez in Oaxaca, where landslides occurred as heavy downpour struck the area on July 13.

Evacuations were carried out after houses were flooded and roads were damaged.

Property damage was also reported in San Juan Bautista Cuicatlan, San Juan Tepeuxila, and Eloxochitlan de Flores Magon.

"The rain has left a great disaster in our village," officials in San Andres Hidalgo posted, along with a photo showing the aftermath of a landslide.

Nuestra delegación Cañada y @SEDENAmx activan PLAN-DN-III en atención a municipios de la Cañada afectados por las lluvias generadas por la zona de baja presión asociada con la onda Tropical número 15 #Oaxaca @alejandromurat @AntonioAmaroC pic.twitter.com/CzewWQtxRE

— ProtecciónCivilOax (@CEPCO_GobOax) July 12, 2020

Habitantes de Huautla de Jiménez en coordinación con autoridades estatales y municipales trabajan para limpiar las calles afectadas por las fuertes lluvias de este sábado #Oaxaca pic.twitter.com/kVwJiConyJ

— ProtecciónCivilOax (@CEPCO_GobOax) July 12, 2020

Autoridades de Huautla de Jiménez recuperan los cuerpos de dos personas que fallecieron en la comunidad de la Providencia a consecuencia de un deslizamiento de ladera generado por las lluvias de las últimas horas @alejandromurat @AntonioAmaroC @HectorA_Mafud @DavidLeonRomero pic.twitter.com/Vt1jGxqjYB

— ProtecciónCivilOax (@CEPCO_GobOax) July 12, 2020

In Jalisco, a hailstorm was reported in the central and southern areas of Zapopan on July 15.

The Municipal Civil Protection and Fire Department said it resulted in at least four flood points on public roads, with levels hitting almost 1 m (3 feet).

Around seven vehicles were swept away by the current, mainly in the area of Ciudad del Sol, La Estancia, and Las Aguilas.

Meanwhile, floodwater levels exceeded 1 m (3 feet) in Plaza del Sol. Around 32 mm (1.3 inches) of rain fell, while winds reached speeds of up to 69 km/h (43 mph).

Authorities closed several overpasses after roads were severely damaged. Motorists had to wait for at least two hours for the waters to drain and for them to continue to their destination.

#Alinstante nos encontramos trabajando en el desazolve de la Av Lázaro Cardenas entre las calles 13 y 14 en la colonia El Dean en Guadalajara, se re gistra inundación de 80 cms, evite la zona pic.twitter.com/TkAdkHEGC2

— Protección Civil JAL (@PCJalisco) July 15, 2020

#Importante

Auxiliamos a los conductores de 3 vehículos a salir de sus vehiculos que quedaron varados sobre la Av. López Mateos, luego de la #lluvia que se presentó en la zona sur del municipio. pic.twitter.com/TAMhFQKEGp

— PCyBomberosZapopan (@UMPCyBZ) July 15, 2020

Guadalajara was also lashed by hail, leading to widespread flooding in various parts of the area. Several cars were stranded and numerous trees were downed, prompting road closures. 

According to local media, the hailstorm was generated by two storm cores. "The first one started in the surroundings of Tonalá and advanced towards Guadalajara and South Zapopan," The Herald of Mexico wrote. 

"The second one was formed near Concentro and moved towards the center and south of Zapopan."

The affected areas in the municipalitywere Rio Nilo and Salvador Lopez Chavez in Quinta Velarde; Calle I y Gobernador Curiel, Colon Industrial; Pérez Lete, Imprenta junction in El Deán; Fidel Velázquez and Valladolid, Santa Elena Alcalde; Esmeralda and Cuarzo, Verde Valle, and Calle 22, Ferrocarril.

@Trafico_ZMG colon e isla Raza. 25 años y sigue pasando lo mismo pic.twitter.com/ZwKPEnhuR0

— Ernesto Vazquez Santos (@Ernythehorse) July 15, 2020

26 puntos propensos a inundación son los que existen en la ciudad, sin embargo, hay zonas que podrían convertirse en focos rojos. Durante este temporal, colonias como Jardines del Valle o Nuevo México podrían sufrir los estragos de las lluvias. pic.twitter.com/fHHjdn78a5

— Tv Azteca Jalisco (@TVAztecaJalisco) July 15, 2020

#Alinstante nos encontramos trabajando en el desazolve de la Av Lázaro Cardenas entre las calles 13 y 14 en la colonia El Dean en Guadalajara, se re gistra inundación de 80 cms, evite la zona pic.twitter.com/TkAdkHEGC2

— Protección Civil JAL (@PCJalisco) July 15, 2020

Featured image credit: Zapopan Civil Protection and Fire Department