A rip roaring tempest hit the mountain range overlooking Lake Chapala’s north shore in the pre-dawn hours of Tuesday, October 5, unleashing torrents of runoff from creek beds that swept tons of mud and debris down upon the Ajijic-Jocotepec corridor.
The fierce storm also struck the back side of the mountains and points across the lake, causing severe flooding in small communities pertaining to Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos and the south shore town of San Luis Soyotlán.
The rains reportedly started around 2 a.m., building up to heavy strength between 4 and 6 a.m. when the arroyos began pouring downhill, pushing along loose stones, huge rocks, dried branches, complete trees, other vegetation and man-made materials caught in their paths.
The powerful weather event took many householders and early morning commuters by surprise, as gushing flood waters and landslide detritus suddenly washed onto the Ajijic-Jocotepec highway and into several neighborhoods situated on the south side of the road. Passage along the roadway and entry ways to gated communities and businesses became completely blocked at multiple points.
The worst impact occurred in the stretch west of Ajijic between Alceseca and the Jocotepec boundary at La Mojonera.
Please login or subscribe to view the complete article.