Mexico Roundup: Drone attacks, false earthquake alarm, Olympics win

Olympics divers win silver medal

Mexican synchronised divers Osmar Olvera Ibarra and Juan Manuel Celaya won the silver medal in the synchronised 3-meter springboard event at the Paris Olympics. They narrowly missed gold, but their performance was praised for its power and elegance. Coached by Ma Jin, the duo made history by becoming the first Mexicans to win a medal in this competition. According to Mexico News Daily, the president Andrés Manuel López Obrador and the Defense Ministry (Sedena) congratulated them, and their silver medal marked Mexico's 76th medal in the history of the Summer Olympics.

Oxxo store chain reopens branches

Mexico's largest convenience store chain, Oxxo, will reopen 191 stores in Nuevo Laredo after closing due to drug cartel threats. The company reached an agreement with authorities for increased police presence and panic buttons in the stores. The closures highlight the impact of gang demands on businesses, as cartels increasingly try to control sales and pricing of goods. It was forced to close the stores after gang members abducted two employees and demanded information. The problem is not limited to smaller businesses, as larger corporations are also being targeted. The American Chamber of Commerce reported that 12% of its members have experienced organised crime taking control of their sales and distribution. The head of a business federation in Tamaulipas state was shot to death after speaking out about cartel extortion. Oxxo stores are targeted due to their widespread presence in Mexico. AP News reports that in 2022, gangs set fire to about two dozen Oxxo stores in Guanajuato to protest the arrest of a cartel leader. In 2009, severed heads were found in Styrofoam coolers with the Oxxo logo in Jalisco.

Rainfall boosts water capacity

July rains have boosted low water levels in Mexico City's reservoirs, especially in the Cutzamala system, which provides a quarter of the city's water. The system's reservoirs received above average rainfall in July, leading to a significant recovery in water levels. The main reservoirs in the system have seen an increase in their storage capacity, with some reaching their highest levels since 2016. Other reservoirs across Mexico have also seen improvements in their storage capacity, Mexico News Daily reports. Additionally, efforts are being made to clean and de-silt the Cutzamala system to facilitate drainage and reduce flooding risks.

Drone attacks

Drug cartels in Mexico are using bomb-dropping drones to attack the army, causing casualties and creating a warzone in the region of Michoacan. According to Fox News, these attacks, carried out by cartels like Jalisco, have resulted in numerous deaths and injuries. The army is now adding anti-drone systems to combat these threats. In addition to drone attacks, the cartels are also flooding major U.S. cities with meth and fentanyl, contributing to the worst drug crisis in U.S. history. Former President Trump has stated that strikes against the Mexican drug cartels are still on the table.

False earthquake alarm

Mexico City residents were startled by a false earthquake alarm that was activated by mistake. The Center for Seismic Instrumentation and Registry (CIRES) admitted to the error, attributing it to preparations for a National Drill. Social media reactions ranged from humorous to critical. The earthquake alarm is designed to give residents enough time to evacuate buildings before a quake hits. Mexico News Daily reports that the last major earthquake in Mexico City occurred in 2017, killing 370 people and injuring over 6,000.