Puebla hailstorm traps motorists and disrupts industrial operations

Severe hailstorms and heavy rains in the Puebla metropolitan area caused significant disruption on the Mexico-Puebla highway. In the municipality of Coronango, specifically near the San Francisco de Ocotlán underpass, hail accumulation reached heights of up to 75 centimeters, trapping dozens of motorists.

Civil Protection units rescued 38 people stranded in their vehicles. The storm also caused a trailer, a pickup truck, and a passenger car to become stuck for several hours near the FINSA industrial area. Traffic congestion was reported near the Outlet Puebla Premier and near the Volkswagen Plant 5 entrance.

Beyond transportation issues, the storm caused infrastructure damage, including downed power poles that led to electricity outages. At the Volkswagen plant in Cuautlancingo, water and ice entered several facilities, impacting operations. Additionally, drainage systems collapsed in neighborhoods such as Misiones de San Francisco, causing water to enter homes and contaminate cisterns. Authorities confirmed no fatalities or injuries, and heavy machinery has been deployed to clear ice and debris from the roads.