On Wednesday afternoon, the Cuale River, which flows through the center of Puerto Vallarta, experienced an unexpected and sudden rise in water levels, causing alarm among local residents. The abrupt increase in water volume was surprising, especially since the day had been dry with no rainfall in the city.
Residents near the river were startled by the rapid surge of water and the noise of rocks being dragged along the riverbed. The director of Civil Protection and Firefighters of Puerto Vallarta, Gerardo Alonso Castillón Andrade, reported that they first noticed the rise at 6:20 PM. In response, they immediately began preventive patrols along the riverbanks, alerted the population, and advised them to stay tuned for official instructions.
Commander Castillón Andrade speculated that heavy rains must have occurred in the upper parts of the mountain range, leading to the sudden rise in the river. He mentioned that the river was at 70% of its capacity and could potentially continue to rise. To monitor the situation, authorities placed markers to track the water level and take appropriate measures.
Shortly after 7:00 PM, residents reported that the Cuale River had overflowed its banks in the lower part of the Buenos Aires neighborhood, east of Puerto Vallarta. The overflow occurred right in front of the high school, causing the street to narrow to one lane for those crossing to Paso Ancho.
Civil Protection continues to monitor the situation closely to ensure the safety of residents and manage any further developments.