After almost 11 years, Río Sonora is still not environmental remedy

Daniel González Delgadillo

La Jornada newspaper
Monday, July 28, 2025, p. 17

Almost 11 years after the toxic spill from Grupo México on the Sonora River, activists pointed out that they continue equal or worsebecause there has been no real justice or reparation for damage to health and the environment by the governments or the company of Germán Larrea for the affected communities.

Antonio Romo, a member of the Sonora River Basin Committees, pointed out in an interview that the lack of remediation in these years still affects the inhabitants of the municipalities of Arizpe, Banamichi, Huépac, San Felipe de Jesús, Aconchi, Baviacora and Ures for the 40 thousand cubic meters of acidic copper sulfate spilled by the Buenavista mine of August 6, 2014.

People continue to get sick, there are children, women and men with heavy metals (arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury) in the blood. There are no specialized clinics, medical care or follow -up. The health situation in communities is serious and totally ignoredhe commented.

The spill was initially impacted on the health and life of 22 thousand people, fields and cattle, but at present, figures of the scope of these effects are unknown.

We have very painful cases. People who fought for the river and their community died from pollution related diseases without receiving specialized medical attentionRomo highlighted by remembering the struggle of Norberto Bustamante, Ramón Miranda and Martha Patricia Velarde, members of the committees.

Since 2014 they have only received promises from the authorities, such as the construction of 36 water treatment plants and a hospital during the presidency of Enrique Peña Nieto. Only 10 were remodeled, which do not have heavy metal filters and only a carafonera was built in San Rafael de Ures during the government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador for the endowment of drinking water, Romo said.

He finished: on May 20, different areas pledged to work in three axes: health, drinking water and environmental remediation, and the committees proposed a room: guarantees of non -repetition and accountability. However, to date There is no calendar, responsible, or concrete budget.