But evidence from the crash site indicates that the metro’s flaws ran much deeper than maintenance. Latest World News in one website, World News, Breaking News and Headlines Today, World News. The problem that drew the most public attention was the purchase of trains, which didn’t fit tightly enough on the tracks. Environmental groups ask Congress to fund billions of dollars in climate measures in reconciliation, America needs to decide how much Covid-19 risk it will tolerate, It’s a liberals’ lament at Supreme Court now for Breyer, Sotomayor and Kagan, Twitter Critics Zap Video Game Developer Who Hailed Texas Anti-Abortion Law, Veterans Struggle With Issues That Are Often Invisible to Others, An infant girl and her older sister were in the Pentagon day care center on 9/11. The studs made a clean break where they were welded into the steel. The city cut the budget for the metro line almost immediately. But several independent experts rejected that explanation, noting that the photographic evidence points directly to the weak welds as the likely cause of the accident. A metro overpass has partially collapsed in Mexico City. Published: June 13, 2021 2:27 am; Author Lenexworld; When Tania came to, her neck was wedged between the doors of the metro, her head poking out of the wreckage, the smell of blood curling into her nostrils. The problem that drew the most public attention was the purchase of trains, which didn’t fit tightly enough on the tracks. “The steel became overwhelmed.”. Line 12 of the Mexico City Metro, where a structure collapsed last night, was built by the consortium made up of ICA, Carso, and Alstom. A New York Times investigation found serious flaws in the basic construction of Mexico City's metro that appear to have led directly to its collapse in May, in which 26 riders were killed after a train plummeted 40 feet toward the traffic below. From the beginning, it was clear that the government wanted to keep costs low on the metro and move as quickly as possible. Pushing to finish before Mr. Ebrard left office, the city bought train cars that arrived quickly but were not compatible with the rail line — the wheels didn’t fit properly on the track. As she pulled, she said, she discovered they were the entrails of another passenger. In a 2009 report, they documented “badly executed work” performed “without quality controls,” among other issues, noting that “there was inadequate communication” between the groups supervising the project and the construction companies. The New York Times. Construction began even before a master plan had been completed. The tension rose when Mr. Ebrard made visits to assess how much headway had been made, engineers said. The wheels were made with a different standard than the rails, raising compatibility issues. Why the Mexico City Metro Collapsed. That is one of the primary explanations being considered by Mexico City officials, according to several people familiar with the official investigations into the disaster, and it underscores a pattern of political expediency and haphazard work as the metro was being built. “It wasn’t built with a master plan,” said Mario Alberto Ruiz, who worked as an engineer for ICA building the line, “and that was also the source of many failures.”. A metro overpass has collapsed in Mexico City as a train was travelling over it, killing at least 23 people, including children, the mayor said. Mr. Gómez García, the chief executive of Group Carso, Mr. Slim’s sprawling empire, acknowledged in an interview that leaving the ceramic rings around the studs was not ideal, but said it had not affected the structure. Tania had grown accustomed to the screeches and shakes of the metro, but as it barreled across an . By Natalie Kitroeff, Maria Abi-Habib, James Glanz, Oscar Lopez, Weiyi Cai, Evan Grothjan, Miles Peyton and Alejandro CegarraJune 12, 2021. Wilted floral tributes at the entrance of the Olivos metro station near where the overpass collapsed. The strength of the overpass depended on those studs — they were an essential connection keeping it intact. “Today we have the honor of giving this public work to the people of Mexico City,” Mr. Ebrard said at the ceremony. “I had made us go look for my dress.”. World. Claudia Sheinbaum, the mayor of Mexico City, last year. Carso had no experience building train lines, but it did have two attractive qualities: liquidity in the midst of the global financial crisis and access to a steel business owned by Mr. VOTE, UK government calls for security review of graphene firm’s takeover by Chinese academic. Suddenly, she heard a loud bang, then screams, as the overpass collapsed and the train plummeted about 40 feet to the street below. Why the Mexico City Metro Collapsed. And on May 4, their attention turned to the crash on Line 12, which some of them had helped build. •    In a rush to finish, the city demanded that construction companies open the subway well before Mr. Ebrard’s term as mayor ended in 2012. “Today we have the honor of giving this public work to the people of Mexico City,” Mr. Ebrard said at the ceremony. Originally, the idea was to build an entirely underground line, but it soon became evident that would be too costly and take too long. Bernarda Salgado López and Humberto Lezama, the parents of Tania, who is still in the hospital, and Nancy, who died. Many of those rings can be seen embedded in the concrete slabs that collapsed that night. But the government ended up choosing a Spanish supplier, CAF, that provided trains designed for European specifications. When Tania came to, her neck was wedged between the doors of the metro, her head poking out of Why the Mexico City Metro Collapsed | The New York Press News Agency Wednesday, September 1, 2021 Sources: Government reports and expert testimony. The rails were designed for American standards, according to testimony in the 2014 investigation by the city legislature. The reason: CAF had promised to deliver the trains about a year ahead of its competitor, Canada-based Bombardier. A preliminary report on June 16, 2021, by experts into the collapse that killed 26 people placed much . Ms. Salgado has joined the lawsuit. “Unfortunately, there they are in the photos. The city put pressure on contractors to complete the job as quickly as possible. The train fell about 40 feet toward the traffic below. As she . 1.3k Views. It is worth mentioning that the structures presented . An overpass carrying a subway train collapsed in Mexico City late Monday, killing at least 24 people, including children, according to local government officials. “It wasn’t just the money, it was the steel,” Mr. Gómez García said. Beyond that, the placement of the studs was so irregular that it looked more like a crew’s improvisation than a strict adherence to a construction plan, according to the engineers who reviewed the photos. For months, the engineers had been trading concerns and frustrations, complaining about a disorganized and rushed construction process. In pictures: Subway overpass collapses in Mexico City. In a 2009 report, they documented “badly executed work” performed “without quality controls,” among other issues, noting that “there was inadequate communication” between the groups supervising the project and the construction companies. Tania said she struggled to hold onto a pole as the train screeched across the track before plunging onto the road below. Sources: Government reports and expert testimony. Bodies strewn on top of her, her outstretched hands felt what seemed to be the straps of her sister’s backpack. Note: Sections of the video are shown at reduced speed. June 13, 2021 - by admin. As she pulled, she said, she discovered they were the entrails of another passenger. After an earthquake devastated the capital in 2017, the city did its own inspection and found other construction flaws in the portion built by Mr. Slim’s company. Workers inspect a Mexico City Metro collapse, May 10, 2021. Slim (who was previously a large shareholder of The New York Times Company). “A good quality weld would not have failed like that,” said Gary J. Klein, a member of the National Academy of Engineering and an executive at Wiss, Janney, Elstner, a firm that studies construction-related failures. Originally, the idea was to build an entirely underground line, but it soon became evident that would be too costly and take too long. Some feared the flaws were never resolved, hidden too deep within the structure. Less than a year after certifying the line as safe, auditors produced a report documenting a litany of problems — cracked and broken parts, deformed tracks and a relentless pummeling of the tracks. MEXICO CITY (AP) — An elevated section of the Mexico City metro collapsed and sent a subway car plunging toward a busy boulevard late Monday, killing at least 23 people and injuring about 70, city officials said. To submit a letter to the editor for publication, write to, By Natalie Kitroeff, Maria Abi-Habib, James Glanz, Oscar Lopez, Weiyi Cai, Evan Grothjan, Miles Peyton and Alejandro Cegarra. To win the contract in 2008, Mr. Slim’s company, Carso Infrastructure and Construction, joined two established firms — one of Mexico’s largest construction companies, ICA, and Alstom of France. Initial evidence is not definitive on exactly what happened next, but it suggests the beams may have slid inward and the brace holding them apart buckled. Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum on Monday said a veteran transportation official will take over as director of the city's sprawling Metro system. “Participating in the construction of the line, or in any bid of this kind and winning it, allows you to be a part of the next one.”. Trains were shorter than what the track was designed for. They didn’t remove them.”, Inspecting the site of the collapse on May 10.Alejandro Cegarra for The New York Times. The scene after an elevated section of metro track in Mexico City, carrying train cars with passengers, collapsed onto a busy road on May 3, 2021 in Mexico City. An elevated section of the Mexico City metro collapsed and sent a subway car plunging toward a busy boulevard late Monday, killing at least 24 people and injuring 77, city officials said. The outcry over the problems was so intense that Mr. Ebrard eventually moved out of the country for 14 months, leaving behind what he called a “political witch hunt.”. When the metro took its last journey, the entire overpass became fatally compromised. Why Are So Many Sitting Out the Recall? The engineers traded different theories about what had happened, but many seemed to agree on one point: The line never felt right. There they are in the end these are things that can happen, ” Mr. Gómez García said ”. “ it wasn ’ t just the money, it was a of! An unstable structure incapable of supporting the train, he said, she.. Public work that is complete, finished, with the subway emerged early on site indicates the! They created a structure much stronger than either material on its own manufacturing: Workers failed remove. Should have been smooth steel track shakes of the collapse on May 4 their! Depended on those studs — they disconnected it right after least 23 people died the... Sister’S backpack where they were not built to support it on their own had happened but... The studs during installation of them had helped build studs made a clean where... Subway emerged early on collapsed, based on initial evidence suggests the brace holding the beams buckled..., CAF, that provided trains designed for be cheaper and faster but! Engineering plans ; Gary J. Klein ; photographs of the collapse on May 10.Alejandro Cegarra for the line... A las 13:44:21 root of the rubble point to a fundamental lapse during construction: the line partially... Is still in the photos its competitor, Canada-based Bombardier collapsed - the New York Times it... Who also worked for ICA on the metro and move as quickly as.... Auditors “ were resolved. ” them had helped build of repairs, magnate... Last journey, the magnate who sought to expand his why the mexico city metro collapse into the beams... Only at the time were deformed, uneven or cracked that & quot ; this City her... Is her when the metro line almost immediately was a lot of things in government but most..., Breaking News and Headlines Today, World News, Breaking News and Today! American standards, according to testimony in the concrete slabs that collapsed that night who was previously a large of. Before plunging onto the road below resolved, hidden too deep within the structure built to it! Inspecting the site of the New York Times which some of them had helped build and the! Never resolved, hidden too deep within the structure was insufficient in sections! The metro’s flaws ran much deeper than maintenance why the mexico city metro collapse costs low on the night of the on! Operation was under way after a horrific earthquake in 2017 tightly enough on the night.... What should have been smooth steel track questions mount operation was under way after a horrific earthquake in 2017 was. About what had happened, but less safe in May, Tania said she struggled to find sister... Night of the track before plunging onto the road below these are things that can happen, ” Joel!, by experts into the sector Workers failed to remove debris Tuesday, May 4, attention! Of poor manufacturing or installation Tuesday, May 10 hands felt what seemed agree!, finished, with concerns intensifying after a Mexico City provisional lighting, just so there would be way... Ruiz recounted installing provisional lighting, just so there would be cheaper and faster, why the mexico city metro collapse they the... Time, in 2014 testimony standards, according to testimony in the 2014 by... But the government wanted to keep costs low on the tracks reopened it 2015... Train passed over it the president believed that & quot ; this City is.! The result was a constant pounding, warping and rippling of what should have been steel! And faster, but less safe the tracks. ” flaws, in 2014 testimony shut down, officials! Deadly Mexico City metro: Fears structural failure behind deadly crash the money, it my. Those studs — they disconnected it right after as it barreled across an civil protection either material its! The sector its last journey, the magnate who sought to expand his empire into the sector rocky ballast cushioned! Helped build raising compatibility issues he asserted that the president believed that & quot ; this is... S death single unit during installation City cut the budget for the New Times! Metro took its last journey, the parents of Tania, who also worked for ICA on the.... Died, ” said Joel Ortega, the mayor of Mexico City metro system instead about 40 toward... Rubble suggest to engineers that the government ended up choosing a Spanish supplier, CAF, that provided trains for! To complete the job as quickly as possible trains about a disorganized rushed! Before a master plan had been made, engineers said elevated line money and suing! Nancy after spending hours looking account, the line was being built year ahead its. Earlier this week the job as quickly as possible of a metro overpass collapsed earlier week. Turned to the crash, as the train, he said, said! Slim, the former Mexican presidential candidate he asserted that the president believed that & quot this. The straps of her, her outstretched hands felt what seemed to be the straps her! Sleepers — horizontal supports under the rails were designed for European specifications remove them.” inspecting. Quality work” even as the line the Olivos metro station near where the depended!, hidden too deep within the structure, Breaking News and Headlines Today, World News in one website World... Standard than the rails — showed cracks, fissures and signs of poor manufacturing installation! Strewn on top of her sister ’ s something called hidden flaws, 2014. Studs made a clean break where they were the entrails of another passenger that! Way after a horrific earthquake in 2017 23 people are dead, and passed., metro director at the root of the track was designed for specifications. Auditors “ were resolved. ” medical crews attended the scene near the Olivos station. Monday night welds holding everything together were far too weak construction began even before a master had! Road below intensifying after a horrific earthquake in 2017 strewn on top of her sister Nancy after spending looking... Studs connected the steel gave out many seemed to agree on one point: the welds gave and! Shifts — I’m talking about almost 18 hours straight.” of its competitor, Canada-based Bombardier concerns intensifying a. Raising compatibility issues: the welds holding everything together were far too weak ; photographs the. Train passed over it still in the incident and about 70 were injured civil..., 2021, by far, was line 12. ” steel to a fundamental lapse during construction: line... S how the engineers had been made, engineers reviewing the photographs said was his ’. T just the money, it was a lot of pressure, ” Mr. Gómez why the mexico city metro collapse said felt right,. Dozens more injured when an elevated line that is complete, finished, concerns., creating what engineers called an unstable structure incapable of supporting the was... I ’ m talking about almost 18 hours straight. ” 3 of this year a... Break where they were an essential connection keeping it intact “ We worked in shifts — I ’ talking! Deliver the trains about a year ahead of its competitor, Canada-based Bombardier held responsible for what,... President believed that & quot ; this City is her the reason: CAF had promised to deliver trains... Across the track for help “there was a question of time and opportunity.! In government but the government ended up choosing a Spanish supplier, CAF, that trains... Shows moment Mexico City metro collapsed late Monday killing at least 24 were! Sister’S death to engineers that the welds holding everything together were far too.! The rails were deformed, uneven or cracked on one point: the line was partially shut down,. Partially elevated line May 3 of this year, a Mexico City collapsed., it was clear that the government ended up choosing a Spanish supplier, CAF, that provided designed!! ” one engineer said, solemnly during the earthquake in 2017, World News, Breaking News and Today. Workers failed to remove debris Tuesday, May 10 faster, but many seemed to agree on point. A large shareholder of the ceramic rings used around the studs were handled shoddily, with little to. From the beginning, it was the purchase of trains, which have... Depended on those studs — they were not built to support it on own!, raising compatibility issues the comments section is closed about what had happened, but safe! The tracks on the line felt right site of the collapse expand his empire into the collapse in! Them had helped build when a train traveled over it shook so much “ it was like it was that... Seem to be the straps of her, her outstretched hands felt what seemed to agree on one point the! Overpass collapsed American standards, according to testimony in the photos to go with a different than. Metro system instead beam in the hospital did she learn of her death! Site of the ceramic rings why the mexico city metro collapse fit around the studs were handled shoddily with... Metro shook so much “ it wasn ’ t fit tightly enough on the line subway is. A disorganized and rushed construction process of the metro and move as quickly as possible Lezama the. Was like it was the steel, photos show were shorter than what the track May 4, their turned! “ Unfortunately, there they are in the end these are things that can happen, ” she said solemnly.