Social unrest and utility shortages in Latin America

Social unrest and infrastructure challenges have been reported across several regions. In Mexico, authorities in Mexico City have called for peaceful demonstrations following road blockades, while in Tijuana, landslides have placed 15 homes at risk in the 3 de Octubre neighborhood. In Venezuela, residents in the La Resistencia neighborhood near the Neverí River have reported institutional neglect amid recurring flooding and a lack of basic services.

As the situation progressed, utility failures triggered more direct action. In Vallehermoso, Mexico, residents blocked the highway to Mérida, Yucatán, to protest two-week electricity shortages and a lack of potable water, which has disrupted pumping systems managed by the Commission of Potable Water and Sewerage (CAPA). Similarly, in Valencia, Venezuela, residents in southern sectors such as Francisco de Miranda and Barrio Venezuela held consecutive protests and closed main avenues to demonstrate against daily power outages lasting six to seven hours. Demonstrators cited a lack of official rationing schedules from Corpoelec and noted that interruptions hinder commercial activities.

In the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area of Mexico, social tension has escalated due to water crises. Protests regarding poor water quality led to confrontations between citizens and security forces, with local authorities publicly admitting to the “excessive use of force” during dispersal efforts.