Two Mexicali neighborhoods lost both electricity and running water on June 17 as temperatures reached 45°C (113°F), creating dangerous conditions for residents with no relief from the extreme heat.
La Puerta and Renacimiento del Valle, two colonias in the Baja California capital, experienced simultaneous outages with no cause given by authorities. The city government has not announced a restoration timeline for either service.
Emergency Cooling Shelters Opened
Mexicali Mayor Norma Bustamante Martínez announced the activation of emergency cooling shelters at three locations. Two are at Desarrollo Humano Integral centers, one at Delta/Oaxaca and another at Carranza. A third shelter opened at the Ejido Nayarit social hall.
The dual outage poses a serious health risk. Without air conditioning or evaporative coolers, indoor temperatures in Mexicali can climb to dangerous levels within minutes. Without running water, residents cannot hydrate or cool themselves by other means.
Mexicali’s Heat Is Among Mexico’s Most Lethal
Mexicali consistently records the highest summer temperatures of any city in Mexico. A 2024 study published in Investigaciones Geográficas found that 332 heat-related deaths were certified by the medical examiner in the city between 2002 and 2023, with 45 deaths in 2023 alone. That same research confirmed that the areas most vulnerable to heat are low-income neighborhoods with deficient public services.
The city sits in the Sonoran Desert just south of Calexico, California. Summer temperatures routinely exceed 40°C (104°F) from June through September, and research from SAGE Publications has documented an upward trend in both maximum temperatures and the number of days qualifying as heat waves over recent decades. Hospital admissions tied to heat exposure have risen in parallel.
What Residents Should Know
Residents in affected areas who cannot reach one of the three shelters should seek any air-conditioned space. Shopping centers, restaurants, and public buildings along Boulevard Lázaro Cárdenas and other major corridors can serve as alternatives. Authorities have not indicated whether the outages may spread to other colonias.
This story was first reported by La Jornada BC.