Mayan Train Infrastructure Faces Challenges After Tropical Storm

Tropical storm "Nadine" has exposed some serious issues with the Mayan Train infrastructure in Quintana Roo, Mexico, just 20 days after the National Defense Secretary (SEDENA) announced the completion of sections 6 and 7. The storm led to flooding at the bridge to the train station in the Bacalar-Reforma section and caused a landslide on the road to Morocoy.

The Othón P. Blanco Municipality confirmed that numerous rural roads are underwater. In communities such as Allende and Francisco Villa, at least 70 homes have been impacted by water accumulation. The landslide on the road to Morocoy has also caused significant damage.

Local residents have taken to social media to express their concerns about the risk of isolation due to the excess water and the landslide. A video posted by Gregorio Yupit showed a sewer built by SEDENA collapsing, with the water flow breaking the base of the road. This could potentially disrupt the road connection in the area.

The previous night, residents of the Bacalar municipality reported that the access bridge to the Mayan Train station was submerged, hindering vehicular traffic.

In Chetumal, the municipal president Yensunni Martínez reported that the main issues were fallen trees, poles, and cables, along with power outages and flooding at 35 critical points. Most of these issues have been addressed thanks to swift water evacuation efforts.

It is noteworthy that the Mayan Train station in Chetumal, located in front of the international airport, was inaugurated by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on his last day in office on September 29. SEDENA, which is responsible for sections 6 and 7 in Quintana Roo, had declared the work complete and expressed satisfaction with the quality of the work delivered.