“Maya Train Workers Brave Extreme Heatwave”

Workers on the Maya Train project are seeking refuge from soaring temperatures beneath the Villas del Sol bridge. The heatwave currently hitting the Yucatan Peninsula is making the construction of the Maya Train a monumental challenge. At the height of the day, when the sun is at its most intense, workers scramble for any available shade to rest.

Their lunch break is only an hour long, but some workers are so exhausted that they nap on the excavators amid the noise, dust, and relentless heat. Venancio Cleto, a 66-year-old laborer, has observed younger colleagues succumbing to the extreme humidity and fatigue. The physical demands of their work are significant, requiring strength, skill, and determination.

Cleto, who hails from the cooler climes of Puebla, says they have access to bottled water and serum, and they prefer to take their breaks in the shade under the bridge. He has seen only one colleague suffer from heatstroke, but acknowledges that the heat affects everyone differently.

The workers, clad in helmets, boots, and vests, prioritize their safety. Cleto, who learned carpentry and construction from Asian colleagues during stints in California and New Orleans, plans to return to Puebla after completing his work on the Maya Train.

"The climate does affect us because we are not from here and our bodies have to acclimatize. I developed a persistent cough that wouldn't clear up until I saw a doctor. Thankfully, I am improving," he shared. Cleto also pointed out that their safety equipment, such as the plastic helmets, can exacerbate the heat.

The Secretariat of Civil Protection, Risk Prevention, and Solidaridad Firefighters reports that the weather will remain hot, with a cloudy sky, no rain, and moderate winds from the East and Southeast. Morning temperatures in Playa del Carmen were recorded at 28 degrees Celsius, with a relative humidity of 84 percent and a maximum temperature of 33.2 degrees Celsius. However, the heat index, which is a measure of how hot it feels, reached a sweltering 42.8 degrees Celsius.