By Michelle Ndaga
Mexico City’s Benito Juarez International Airport halted operations for several hours on Sunday after torrential rains flooded parts of the capital and drastically reduced visibility, officials said.
In a statement posted on its official X account before 9:00 p.m. local time (0300 GMT), the airport announced that “due to heavy rainfall this afternoon and based on reports of low visibility… the aeronautical authority has ordered the suspension of landing and takeoff operations for the next three hours.” The measure was aimed at draining accumulated rainwater and restoring safe operational conditions. The airport one of Latin America’s busiest, handling 45.4 million passengers in 2024 was among several parts of the city affected by the downpour. Floodwaters reached up to 50 centimeters (19 inches) in some neighborhoods, disrupting traffic and prompting the Mexico City government to activate a “purple alert,” the highest warning level, for central districts of the metropolis of over nine million residents.
Heavy storms are common in Mexico between May and November. This year’s rainy season follows a series of severe weather events, including June’s Hurricane Erick, which battered southern coastal communities and left two dead. Last year, the country was hit by multiple deadly hurricanes, among them October’s Category 5 Hurricane Otis, which devastated Acapulco and killed dozens, and September’s Hurricane John, a Category 3 storm that caused about 15 deaths.
Operations at Benito Juarez International Airport gradually resumed late Sunday night as floodwaters receded and visibility improved.
