Merida Living

Mérida Brief: September 2026

This month-in-review, published November 2, covers the fallout from the August 31 blackout, the Plaza La Isla amoeba case, the state's 1,562 million peso loan, rising dengue and food prices.

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  1. The August 31 blackout set the tone for September
  2. A fatal amoeba infection linked to the Plaza La Isla lake
  3. The state shopped for a 1,562 million peso loan
  4. Dengue spread, with Mérida among the affected municipalities
  5. Prices rose faster here than nationally

The August 31 blackout set the tone for September

Our September review starts one day earlier, because its aftermath ran through the month. On the evening of Monday, August 31, a blackout hit Yucatán, Campeche, Quintana Roo and Chiapas. Por Esto reported outages of at least seven hours in some areas, and CFE said supply was fully restored at 3:08 a.m. on September 1. CFE first blamed vandalism on two high-voltage lines, then, per Por Esto on September 3, cited third-party damage to the Escárcega–Ticul link and filed a complaint. No culprits or user counts were given. Diario de Yucatán reported a tentative business estimate of 100 million pesos in Mérida losses, while the Coparmex Mérida and Canaco leaders said losses could not yet be quantified. Canaco members were looking at insurance. Our CFE guide covers how to prepare a household.

A fatal amoeba infection linked to the Plaza La Isla lake

On September 14, Por Esto reported that Yucatán's government had confirmed Naegleria fowleri in the artificial lake at Plaza La Isla, in north Mérida. A 34-year-old man was admitted to an IMSS hospital on September 2 and died on September 8, and the federal reference lab InDRE confirmed the cause. Activities at the lake were suspended. Health secretary Alberto Alcocer Gamboa said those contacted had entered the lake between August 4 and 15. The count was later put at 361, and on September 20 Diario de Yucatán reported 181 discharged and about 180 still monitored, with no symptoms reported in Por Esto's September 18 update. Authorities said the lake is not connected to the drinking water network. Cinvestav specialists told Uno TV the infection comes from water entering the nose, not from drinking it, and called arrival through home pipes very unlikely. By September 23 monitoring had widened to other lakes. The outcome is in our October Brief, and tap water basics are in our water guide.

The state shopped for a 1,562 million peso loan

The loan that Congress authorized on August 24 moved to the banks in September. Diario de Yucatán reported on September 10 that the call seeks up to 1,562 million pesos for the Plan Bienestar Metropolitano, over up to 180 months at a variable rate, with first monthly payments of about 15.6 million pesos. The largest item is 698.8 million for water infrastructure at Mérida plants I to IV, followed by 400 million for security technology, 263.86 million for Periférico underpasses, 158.155 million for pedestrian infrastructure and 41.2 million for Avenida Aviación. On September 21 the same paper said 12 banks had been invited, with bids set for October 15 and an award for October 19. Funds can be contracted across 2026 and 2027, so any effect on your tap is further out. One smaller job did arrive: on September 6, Por Esto reported a 2.76 million peso state water catchment project in colonia Nora Quintana, serving 20,262 people.

Dengue spread, with Mérida among the affected municipalities

Dengue picked up in September. Por Esto, citing federal Health Ministry data published September 22, reported 39 confirmed cases in Yucatán through epidemiological week 36 (September 8 to 14), up from 33 a week earlier, and 1,850 probable cases. Confirmed cases reached 19 municipalities, up from 13, including Mérida and Umán, and the report did not break out a count for Mérida. It listed no confirmed dengue deaths in 2026 at that point: of 12 deaths with compatible symptoms, seven had been ruled out and five were still under review. These numbers are out of date now, and October's are in our October Brief. Care options are in the healthcare guide.

Prices rose faster here than nationally

Por Esto reported on September 26, citing INEGI, that Mérida prices rose 0.48% in the first half of September, against 0.33% nationally, and that the city's annual inflation in August was 4.28%, against 3.26% nationally. Basket costs tell a different part of the story: Profeco's 24-product basket cost 743.90 pesos in Mérida in the week of August 17 to 21, the lowest minimum in the Southeast, per Por Esto on September 6. At the San Benito and Lucas de Gálvez markets, Diario de Yucatán found local squash up from 15 to 30 pesos a kilo during the month and white onion at 43 pesos, with meat stable. For a full household budget, see the cost of living guide. We pick up the power, water and health threads in October's Brief.

Frequently asked questions

Why is a September summary covering an August 31 blackout?

Because the consequences landed in September: full restoration in the early hours of September 1, CFE's complaint, and the business response. The outage itself began on the evening of August 31.

Can you catch the Naegleria amoeba from Mérida tap water?

Authorities said the Plaza La Isla lake is not connected to the drinking water network. Cinvestav specialists told Uno TV in September that infection comes from contaminated water entering the nose, not from drinking, and that arrival through home pipes is very unlikely. See our water guide.

Did the 1,562 million peso loan raise water bills?

The September reports we read did not mention any water rate change. They described the bidding terms and how the money would be split, with 698.8 million pesos for water infrastructure.

Sources & further reading

  1. Por Esto: CFE restablece al 100% el servicio tras apagón en la Península (Sep 1, 2026)
  2. Por Esto: CFE presenta denuncia por daños a infraestructura tras mega apagón (Sep 3, 2026)
  3. Diario de Yucatán: Pierden millones de pesos empresarios de Mérida por apagón (Sep 1, 2026)
  4. Por Esto: Confirman ameba en el lago de Plaza La Isla (Sep 14, 2026)
  5. Por Esto: Más de 200 personas estuvieron en contacto con el lago (Sep 16, 2026)
  6. Por Esto: Ameba en Yucatán: muertes confirmadas y casos en vigilancia (Sep 18, 2026)
  7. Uno TV: ¿La ameba detectada en Mérida puede llegar a cenotes o casas? (Sep 19, 2026)
  8. Diario de Yucatán: Descartan a 181 personas con ameba en Mérida (Sep 20, 2026)
  9. Por Esto: Amplían vigilancia a otros lagos artificiales de Mérida (Sep 23, 2026)
  10. Diario de Yucatán: Yucatán busca bancos que le presten 1,562 millones a pagar en 15 años (Sep 10, 2026)
  11. Diario de Yucatán: Yucatán definirá en octubre qué banco otorgará crédito de 1,562 millones (Sep 21, 2026)
  12. Por Esto: Mérida mejora su abasto de agua potable en la colonia Nora Quintana (Sep 6, 2026)
  13. Por Esto: Dengue gana terreno en Yucatán: ya hay 19 municipios afectados (Sep 22, 2026)
  14. Por Esto: Yucatán, entre los cinco estados donde más subieron los precios en septiembre (Sep 26, 2026)
  15. Por Esto: Canasta básica: Profeco reporta 743 pesos en Mérida (Sep 6, 2026)
  16. Diario de Yucatán: Septiembre cierra con alzas de precios en mercados del centro (Sep 29, 2026)

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