Severe July Floods Ravage Nogales, Sonora, Killing One and Displacing Residents

Intense rainstorms that began on July 18 2026 caused flash flooding and landslides across Nogales, Sonora. The overflow of urban arroyo channels and sudden soil softening triggered a slope failure that buried a 26‑year‑old man, the only confirmed fatality in the municipality.

Emergency services—including Protección Civil, the fire department, the Red Cross, and elements of the national guard under Plan DN‑III‑E—rescued multiple people, among them a woman pulled from a fast‑moving current and a dog saved by a passer‑by. Vehicles were swept into the streets, dozens of homes were inundated, and more than 20 houses suffered damage.

Governor Alfonso Durazo visited the most affected neighborhoods, pledged additional resources, and coordinated the deployment of heavy‑machinery to pump water and clear debris. State and municipal crews continue to assess damage, disinfect homes, and restore mobility on key avenues. The storm also produced flooding on the U.S. side of the border, where three deaths were reported in Arizona.