The severe drought that hit Mexico has had an unexpected consequence. A church from the 16th century that was under the waters of the Grijalva river has come up above the surface.
In the 60s, the dam was built that submerged the Roman Catholic temple of Quechula. But the deadly heat wave that has just hit Mexico has caused the dam to dry up.
Little by little the water sank and the ruins of the church emerged from the depths.
At least eight dead
At least eight people have died and millions are struggling under the high temperatures in Mexico. It is the third heat wave to hit the country this year – and it is expected to last for another two weeks.
Seven of the victims died of heat stroke and one of dehydration between April 14 and June 12, the country’s health ministry said on Friday. In the northeastern city of Monterrey, the temperature exceeded 40 degrees.
Natividad Flores works in a stall near the church.
– We see the consequences of climate change. It gives us dizziness and sunstroke, he tells AFP.
The government of the state of Nuevo Leon, where Monterrey is located, has limited the time children go to school to two hours a day so they can avoid the sun. There is an emergency water shortage in the city, which is also forced to save on electricity at certain hours of the day, says a resident.
– There is a lack of water, you can’t bathe the children or even use a fan because they cut the power, Wendy Tijerina told AFP.