Jump to content

Mexico City Metro overpass collapse

Coordinates: 19°18′18″N 99°03′41″W / 19.3049°N 99.0613°W / 19.3049; -99.0613
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Jim Michael (talk | contribs) at 19:09, 5 May 2021 (→‎References). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Mexico City Metro overpass collapse
The bridge lies collapsed in a V-shape, with two train cars on each side of the tracks
The accident minutes after the collapse
Map
Details
Date3 May 2021 (2021-05-03)
22:25 CDT (UTC-05:00)
LocationTezonco–Olivos elevated interstation
Tláhuac Avenue, Tláhuac, Mexico City
Coordinates19°18′18″N 99°03′41″W / 19.3049°N 99.0613°W / 19.3049; -99.0613
CountryMexico
LineLine 12
OperatorMexico City Metro
Incident typeRailway collapse
CauseUnder investigation
Statistics
Trains1
Crew1[2]
Deaths25[1]
Injured70+ (65 hospitalized)

On 3 May 2021, at 22:25 CDT, a beam supporting the girders of an overpass carrying Line 12 of the Mexico City Metro collapsed beneath a passing train in the borough of Tláhuac. The last two cars of the train fell along with the bridge on Tláhuac Avenue near Olivos station. Twenty-five people have been confirmed dead[1]—21 died at the scene, and four others were pronounced dead at hospitals. It was the Metro's deadliest incident in almost 50 years.

Opened in 2012, Line 12 is the newest line in the system. Since its inauguration, the line has presented technical and structural problems, which resulted in a partial closure during 2014 and 2015 in the elevated sections, where the accident occurred. The span was damaged after the 2017 Puebla earthquake and it was repaired in a few months. A couple of years later, local residents reported that the problems still existed.

Background

Metro system

The Mexico City Metro, operated by the Sistema de Transporte Colectivo (STC),[1] is one of the busiest in the world, carrying around 4.5 million passengers a day.[3][4] Opened in 1969, it is the second-largest metro system in the Americas after the New York City Subway.[5] Before the crash, the system had showed signs of deterioration with general concerns about its maintenance.[6][7]

In March 2020, two trains collided at Tacubaya station after one driver did not follow protocols and the train's brakes failed.[8] In January 2021, a fire in the Metro's downtown headquarters killed a police officer and hospitalized 30 people. Six subway lines were out of service for weeks.[6][9] In April, Line 4 was shut down after a track fire.[6][10]

Line 12

A picture of Line 12's overground track with a train passing by.
The Olivos–Tezonco viaduct in 2016. The accident took place near the Vips and Walmart signs (far left).

The newest line of the Metro system, Line 12 (also known as the Golden Line),[6] was built by Grupo ICA [es] in association with Alstom Mexicana and Grupo Carso.[11] Construction began in September 2008,[12] and it was opened in October 2012 by President Felipe Calderón and the head of government of Mexico City, Marcelo Ebrard.[6][13] From the onset of service, Line 12 faced issues with trains on elevated sections, which forced the reduction of speed over derailment concerns.[6] Seventeen months later,[6] the Atlalilco–Tláhuac section, where Olivos and Tezonco stations are located, was closed for 20 months to give way for repairs of technical and structural faults.[14]

A special commission was created to investigate the causes and to hold officials accountable for the errors that caused the closure.[15] Independent consulting group SYSTRA was asked to submit a report on their investigation. After they reviewed over 2,900 documents and tested the tracks,[16] the group concluded that errors were present during the "planning, design, construction and operation" of the line.[17] In 2015, the Superior Audit Office of the Federation (Auditoría Superior de la Federación; ASF) determined that there were 12 irregularities during the construction process, including incompatibilities between the FE-10's train wheels and the rails, which could cause instabilities, and that the trains' operations were safe but at the acceptable limit.[18] According to the STC general director, Florencia Serranía, French company TCO was contracted since 2016 to maintain the daily operating conditions of the line's fixed installations and that it did not report any affectations.[19]

After the 2017 Puebla earthquake damaged Line 12 tracks, Olivos station was temporarily closed,[20] but it was later reopened and served as the provisional terminal station for one month.[21] Residents had reported in 2017 that the section had visible structural cracks that could cause a future collapse.[3][22] Transport authorities made repairs following these complaints.[3] A column between Olivos and Nopalera stations that showed cracks in its base was repaired by the transport authority by January 2018.[23][24] Before the COVID-19 pandemic, however, residents had informed the authorities that the stretch was steep and the girders were bent.[25] By the end of 2019, engineering company Ingeniería, Servicios y Sistemas Aplicados conducted a study of the structural and geotechnical behavior of the overpass and the outcome did not represent any risk to the line's operation.[19]

Collapse

Multiple concrete columns and girders under construction.
Concrete girders near Olivos station in 2010. The accident was caused with the collapse of similar girders.
Three Mexico City Metro trains are parked.
FE-10 No. 7 (in front), the train involved.

On 3 May 2021 at 22:25 CDT, in the borough of Tláhuac,[26][27] an eastward-bound train was passing on the elevated section of track between Olivos and Tezonco stations.[28] Around 220 meters (720 ft) before reaching Olivos station,[29] the section collapsed when a support beam[30][31] holding the girders of the tracks failed,[32][33] causing the last two train cars[28] to fall.[9][34][35] The debris fell onto an automobile travelling on Tláhuac Avenue, killing the driver and injuring his wife.[36] The overpass was about 5 meters (16 ft) above ground level but was situated above a concrete median strip, which minimized casualties among motorists on the road.[26]

Twenty-five people died and 70 others were injured; 65 of the victims were hospitalized, of whom seven were described as in a serious condition.[26][32][37] The fatalities included children.[26] It was the Metro's deadliest incident since 1975, when a collision between two trains killed 31 people.[38]

Rescue efforts

After the collapse, bystanders began rescue efforts[25][39] and were later joined by first response teams.[40] Neighbors offered the rescuers café de olla, water and bread.[41][42] A shopping mall in the zone emptied their parking lot and let authorities set up a control post.[43] After a few hours, rescue maneuvers were halted as the structure was unstable.[44] A crane was dispatched to hoist sections of the train while search and rescue teams worked to find survivors.[32] The first railcar was removed the next day at 9:20 CDT (15:20 UTC) and the second before 14:00 CDT (21:00 UTC) in the same day.[43]

Aftermath

STC warned residents to avoid the area.[45] Service on the entirety of Line 12 was suspended and replaced with buses,[46] and it will remain closed while a structural survey is undertaken.[47] The federal government declared three days of national mourning.[48] Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said that an international agency will conduct the investigation into the cause of the accident.[49] When director Serranía was asked about satellital images that showed the section was lightly bend, she said "There is no such information, it is not true".[19] She declined to resign from her position.[50]

The general secretary of the Mexican Union of Metro Workers announced that around 8,000 workers would go on strike due to inadequate working conditions for their safety.[9][51] Users reported on social networks the structural damage of other elevated stations, including Oceanía, Consulado and Pantitlán. Sheinbaum said they will be examined accordingly.[52]

Protests

The following day, protesters vandalized several stations, breaking glass platform partitions and daubing slogans such as "It wasn't an accident – It was negligence" on station walls.[53] Demonstrators marched from Periférico Oriente station to the accident site with banners that read "It was not an accident, those responsible have first and last names" and "Corruption kills and the dead are always the people".[54]

References

  1. ^ a b c Gómez Flores, Laura Cecilia (4 May 2021). "Ya son 25 muertos por el desplome del Metro" [There are already 25 deaths due to the collapse of the Metro]. La Jornada (in Spanish). Mexico City. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  2. ^ Olvera, Dulce (4 May 2021). "El conductor del tren de la L12 está hospitalizado. Trabajadores exigen revisar todo el Metro" [The driver of the L12 train is hospitalized. Workers demand to overhaul the entire Metro]. SinEmbargo (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "Mexico City metro overpass collapse kills 23". BBC News. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  4. ^ "Afluencia de estación por línea 2019" [Station traffic per line 2019] (in Spanish). Sistema de Transporte Colectivo Metro. 2020. Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Mexico City Rapid Transit Metro, Mexico - Railway Technology". Railway Technology. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Lopez, Oscar; Ives, Mike; Taylor, Derrick Bryson (4 May 2021). "Mexico City's metro has been plagued by problems". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  7. ^ "Anger mounts as death toll from Mexico metro overpass collapse rises to 24". The Guardian. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  8. ^ Navarro, Israel; Alzaga, Ignacio (1 April 2021). "Choque del Metro Tacubaya, por falla humana; enjuiciarán a dos" [Tacubaya station crash caused by human error; two to be prosecuted]. Milenio (in Spanish). Mexico City.
  9. ^ a b c Sheridan, Mary Beth (4 May 2021). "Mexico City subway overpass collapses; at least 13 dead as metro cars topple". The Washington Post. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  10. ^ Pantoja, Sara (23 April 2021). "Incendio deja sin servicio "hasta nuevo aviso" la Línea 4 del Metro" [Fire leaves Metro Line 4 without service "until further notice"]. Proceso (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  11. ^ "¿Quién construyó la línea 12 del Metro?" [Who built Line 12?]. Expansión (in Spanish). 11 March 2014. Archived from the original on 2 July 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  12. ^ Castillejos, Jessica (21 September 2008). "Línea 12 arranca construcción a vapor" [Line 12 starts with steaming construction]. Excélsior (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 9 December 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  13. ^ "FCH: Línea 12, esfuerzo de voluntades; reconoce a Ebrard" [FCH: Line 12, effort of wills; recognizes Ebrard]. El Universal (in Spanish). 30 October 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  14. ^ Rodea, Felipe (29 November 2015). "Mancera reabre Línea 12 del Metro" [Mancera reopens Metro's Line 12]. El Financiero (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 4 July 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  15. ^ Ramírez, Kenya (18 March 2014). "Lista la Comisión Investigadora de la Línea 12 en la ALDF" [Line 12 Investigation Commission in the ALDF is ready]. Excélsior (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  16. ^ "Línea 12 del Metro falló en diseño y construcción" [Metro Line 12 failed in design and construction]. Forbes (in Spanish). 5 September 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  17. ^ "Cronología y fechas clave en la Línea 12 del Metro" [Chronology and key dates on Metro Line 12]. El Universal (in Spanish). Mexico City. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  18. ^ González, Isabella (4 May 2021). "Las irregularidades de la Línea 12" [Line 12 irregularities]. LatinUS. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  19. ^ a b c Hernández, Eduardo (4 May 2021). "Florencia Serranía asegura que no tenían reportes de afectaciones en la Línea 12" [Florencia Serranía assures that there were no reports of damages to Line 12]. El Universal. Mexico City. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  20. ^ Hernández, Eduardo (21 September 2017). "Vecinos temen colapso de Línea 12 del Metro por sismo" [Neighbors fear collapse of Metro Line 12 due to earthquake]. El Universal (in Spanish). Mexico City. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  21. ^ "Metro reabre tramo dañado de Línea 12" [Metro reopens the damaged section of Line 12]. El Heraldo de México (in Spanish). 30 October 2017. Archived from the original on 3 March 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  22. ^ "Vecinos temían colapso de la Línea 12, según video de El Universal de 2017" [Neighbors feared Line 12 collapse, according to a El Universal video from 2017]. Aristegui Noticias (in Spanish). 3 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  23. ^ "Vecinos de la Línea 12 alertaron por grietas... en 2017" [Line 12 neighbors warned about cracks... in 2017]. Chilango (in Spanish). 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  24. ^ Sistema de Transporte Colectivo [@MetroCDMX] (9 January 2018). "Se concluyeron los trabajos de reforzamiento realizados en la Columna 69 entre #Olivos y #Nopalera de #L12" [Reinforcement works carried out on Column 69 between #Olivos and #Nopalera of #L12 were concluded.] (Tweet) (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021 – via Twitter.
  25. ^ a b Fuentes, David (4 May 2021). "Otra vez brota la solidaridad de extraños por accidente en Línea 12 del Metro" [Once again, solidarity from strangers in the aftermath of the accident on Metro Line 12]. El Universal. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  26. ^ a b c d Sánchez, Fabiola (4 May 2021). "Overpass collapse on Mexico City metro kills at least 24". Associated Press.
  27. ^ Suarez, Karol; Paget, Sharif; Westcott, Ben (4 May 2021). "Mexico City subway overpass collapses, killing at least 23 and injuring dozens". CNN. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  28. ^ a b Núñez, Jaime (4 May 2021). "Tragedia en el Metro". Telediario (in Spanish). Event occurs at 15:00 CDT. Multimedios Televisión. XHTDMX-TDT.
  29. ^ "Qué provocó la tragedia en la Línea 12: estas serían las causas del desplome de un tramo del Metro de la CDMX" [What caused the tragedy on Line 12: these could be the causes of the collapse of a section of the CDMX subway system]. Infobae (in Spanish). 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  30. ^ Harrup, Anthony; Montes, Juan (4 May 2021). "Mexico City Subway Collapse Kills at Least 24, Injures Dozens More". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  31. ^ "Mexico City metro overpass collapse kills at least 23 people, injures dozens". CBS News. Mexico City. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  32. ^ a b c "Mexico City rail overpass collapses, killing 20 people". Reuters. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  33. ^ Andrew Herrera, Karina (3 May 2021). "Se desploma 'ballena' con trenes del Metro CDMX en la estación Olivos de la Línea 12" [A 'whale' collapses with CDMX Metro cars at Olivos station on Line 12]. Noticieros Televisa (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  34. ^ Ives, Mike (4 May 2021). "Subway Train Derails in Mexico City, Killing at Least 13". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  35. ^ "Puente del Metro cae en estaciones Olivos y Tezonco de la Línea 12" [Metro bridge falls at Olivos and Tezonco stations of Line 12]. Milenio (in Spanish). 3 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  36. ^ Nila, Gabriela (4 May 2021). "Confirman muerte de conductor de coche aplastado por desplome de metro Olivos; viajaba con su esposa" [Confirmed death of driver of the crushed car by Olivos subway collapse; he was traveling with his wife]. Noticieros Televisa (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  37. ^ "Colapsa estructura en la Línea 12 del Metro; se registran seis muertos" [Structure collapses on Metro Line 12; six dead are registered]. Energía Hoy (in Spanish). 3 May 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  38. ^ McDonnell, Patrick J.; Linthicum, Kate; Sánchez, Cecilia (4 May 2021). "In Mexico, a deadly train wreck that many saw coming". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  39. ^ "Puente se desploma con todo y tren del Metro en estación Olivos de la L12, en la CDMX" [Bridge collapses with a Metro train at Olivos station of L12, in Mexico City]. Diario de Colima (in Spanish). 3 May 2021.
  40. ^ "Survivors Helped From Wreckage After Deadly Mexico City Overpass Collapse". Yahoo!. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  41. ^ Rodríguez, Juan Carlos (4 May 2021). "Todos parecían estar muertos" [Everyone seemed to be dead]. Eje Central (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  42. ^ "¡Solidaridad presente! Así se unieron las personas tras colapso de la Línea 12 del Metro" [Solidarity present! How people came together after the collapse of Metro Line 12]. Publimetro (in Spanish). 4 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  43. ^ a b Rodríguez, Darinka; Vaerla, Micaela; Arroyo, Lorena (4 May 2021). "'Resistan tantito': la solidaridad de los vecinos de Tláhuac minutos después del derrumbe del metro" ['Hold on a little more': the solidarity of Tláhuac residents minutes after the subway collapse]. El País (in Spanish). Mexico. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  44. ^ "Claudia Sheinbaum informa suspensión en maniobras de rescate; 'estructura está muy débil'" [Claudia Sheinbaum reports suspension of rescue maneuvers; 'structure is too weak']. El Heraldo de México (in Spanish). 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  45. ^ "What We Know About the Mexico City Train Crash". The New York Times. 4 May 2021. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  46. ^ "Cierran toda la Línea 12 del Metro; RTP brindará servicio de apoyo" [All Metro Line 12 is closed; RTP will provide back-up service]. Chilango (in Spanish). 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  47. ^ "Mexico City metro overpass collapse kills 23". BBC News. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  48. ^ "AMLO decreta tres días de luto nacional por accidente en Línea 12 del Metro" [AMLO decrees three days of national mourning for accident on Metro Line 12]. El Universal (in Spanish). 5 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  49. ^ "CDMX busca agencia internacional para peritaje por desplome en L-12 del Metro" [CDMX seeks international agency for Metro L-12 collapse expertise]. Once Noticias (in Spanish). 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  50. ^ Pantoja, Sara (4 May 2021). "Florencia Serranía descarta renunciar a la dirección del Metro; "voy a colaborar con la Fiscalía en lo que pueda"" [Florencia Serranía dismisses resigning as Metro director; "I will collaborate with the Prosecutor's Office in whatever way I can"]. Proceso (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  51. ^ "Trabajadores del Metro anuncian paro de labores en las 12 Líneas, tras colapso en Olivos" [Metro workers announce strike on all 12 lines after Olivos collapse]. El Gráfico (in Spanish). Mexico City. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  52. ^ Hernández, Eduardo (4 May 2021). "Se revisarán denuncias por cuarteaduras en Metro Oceanía y Pantitlán: Sheinbaum" [Complaints about cracks in Oceania and Pantitlan stations will be reviewed: Sheinbaum]. El Universal (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  53. ^ "Feministas y encapuchados protestan por accidente en el Metro CDMX" [Feminists and hooded demonstrator protest accident in the CDMX Metro]. Azteca Noticias (in Spanish). 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  54. ^ Quintero M., Josefina (4 May 2021). "Con marcha exigen castigo a responsables de accidente en L12" [March to demand punishment of those responsible for L12 accident]. La Jornada (in Spanish). Mexico City. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mexico_City_Metro_overpass_collapse&oldid=1021625204"