Construction of hospital for Rio Sonora spill victims to begin in July

Nearly 12 years after the worst mining environmental disaster in Mexico, the Sonora state government has announced the start of construction of an IMSS-Bienestar hospital in Ures with an investment of 500 million pesos. Source: lajornadamx

Background

• The 2014 spill from the Buenavista del Cobre mine (owned by Grupo México) released 40,000 cubic meters of copper sulfate into the Bacanuchi and Sonora rivers, affecting seven municipalities: Arizpe, Banámichi, Aconchi, Baviácora, Huépac, San Felipe de Jesús, and Ures. Source: lajornadamx
• Residents have suffered dermatological, gastrointestinal, and renal ailments, along with uncertainty about long-term heavy metal exposure. Source: lajornadamx
• A hospital was promised as part of remediation efforts in 2014, but only unfinished structures remained. Source: heraldomx
• The new hospital is part of the Plan de Justicia para el Río Sonora. The licitación will be defined on July 13, and construction is set to begin July 20. Source: lajornadamx