Iguala launches first Risk Atlas for disaster prevention

Iguala, Guerrero, has introduced its first "Atlas de Riesgos" (Risk Atlas), a technical tool designed to strengthen prevention, civil protection, and public safety against natural phenomena and emergencies. Presented by Mayor Erik Catalán Rendón, the municipality becomes the fifth in the state of Guerrero to possess such a resource.

Geographer Sergio Esteban De León López, who led the project, identified several high-risk zones, including neighborhoods such as 24 de Febrero, El Capire, and Campestre Altamira due to steep slopes. Other identified hazards include potential flooding along the San Juan River, environmental issues at the Tuxpan lagoon, and traffic risks on the Iguala-Taxco and Iguala-Chilpancingo highways.

The Atlas is intended to guide future urban development and construction regulations. De León López emphasized the need for legal frameworks to prevent settlement in dangerous areas and noted that relocating families from high-risk zones will require coordinated support from federal, state, and municipal governments.