Ajijic took the brunt of torrential rains that poured over the neighboring Sierra del Travesaño mountain range in the early hours of Saturday, October 1. Fortunately, only minor damages were reported after rain water, mud, stones and debris inundated streets across thebreadth of the town.
The prolonged storm apparently settled over the mountains between 4 and 6:30 a.m., washing out the creek beds that flow down towards the lake. Trouble points included the Arroyo Tinajas that runs directly into La Floresta; El Tepalo, passing just west of the entrance to Lomas de Ajijic and dividing its trajectory eastward along Calle Lázaro Cardenas and south onto Calle Revolución; and west of the village through Rancho del Oro onto Calle Ocampo.
Civil Protection and municipal work crews were promptly dispatched to assess the situation and initiative clean-up efforts that continued through the first of the week.
The San José chapel in La Floresta weathered the deluge without problems, contrary to severe damage caused by a similar incident just over a year ago. However, heavy machinery was employed to knock down the metal tube security gate installed across the narrow entry point of the Arroyo Tinajas to release the water and debris built up there to a depth of more than two meters.
The upper end of the arroyo remains full of rocks, stranding several families that used it as dirt roadway to their homes. The traffic circle at the east of the subdivision was completely flooded early in the day until the rush of water subsided.
Calle Revolución also became flooded and impassable along the stretch between Lázaro Cárdenas and the highway. City hall officials announced that the cobblestone roadway will be repaired as a temporary measure until state and municipal funding can be lined up to rebuild the street with stonework embedded in cement.
A long section of Ocampo turned into a raging river due to construction that blocks the natural course of a creek running out of Rancho del Oro.
With mountain terrain now fully saturated, householders living in the vicinity of all arroyos should be on the alert for serious natural disasters that may be provoked by heavy and extended storms. In case of emergency call Protección Civil headquarters at 766-3615 or 766-5252.