Homes in Bacalar: tragedy due to floods attributed to works of the Maya Train

Homes in the Bacalar area of Quintana Roo, whose deeds issued by the government assured they were exempt from the risk of flooding, have been underwater for over two weeks, in what neighbors attribute to the damage caused by the construction of the Mayan Train. The neighborhoods of Diego Rojas and Nuevo Progreso have been particularly affected, facing flooding issues a week before Hurricane "Beryl" hit the region, due to the heavy rains accompanying this weather system. The affected residents, who have lost their assets in the midst of this tragedy, blame the Mayan Train construction for creating a dam over a kilometer long that has diverted the natural course of water, preventing dozens of people from returning to their homes. Humberto Corona, one of the affected residents, shared his devastation upon finding his investment in a hotel practically destroyed by the floods, recounting how the water had reached alarming levels that affected all aspects of his property. The fact that these homes had public deeds and licenses issued by local authorities guaranteeing they were not prone to flooding contrasts with the harsh reality experienced by the residents of Bacalar in recent weeks. Even those with decades of residency in the area claim they had never experienced flooding of this magnitude until the arrival of the Mayan Train construction. Images shared on social media show houses with the first floor submerged in black water, revealing the extent of the tragedy. The inhabitants of the affected neighborhoods have sought answers from local authorities, who have attributed the situation to building homes in low-lying areas and "where they shouldn't have". However, armed with legal documents supporting the security of their properties, the affected residents demand concrete solutions. Close to 50 families have joined forces to demand immediate action, but so far they are still awaiting concrete responses from the authorities. The City Council led by José Alfredo Contreras Méndez has committed to dialogue with organizations such as Conagua and Sedena in search of a solution, presenting projects that have not yet succeeded in resolving the crisis faced by the residents of Bacalar. Neighbors near the Mayan Train construction have pointed out changes in their surroundings as evidence of the construction's responsibility for the sudden floods they have experienced. Criticism has been directed towards Sedena, in charge of the Mayan Train, as well as the Government of Quintana Roo, led by Mara Lezama, whom they accuse of evading responsibilities and not providing effective responses to the crisis. The Bacalar Water and Sewerage Commission (CAPA) has tried to mitigate the situation with machinery to dredge the neighborhoods, but residents point out that these actions have been insufficient to tackle the amount of accumulated water. Desperation and uncertainty grip the affected residents, who fear this situation may happen again and are faced with the dilemma of deciding whether to invest again in properties that could flood once more, go into debt, sue the authorities, or in the worst case scenario, run out of resources and live in precarious conditions. Meanwhile, entire families continue to live among unsanitary waters, exposed to diseases and the lack of response from local and state authorities.