Drought in recent years caused a severe drop in Lake Metztitlan’s water levels in Hidalgo state, killing numerous fish. Mexican National Water Commission (Conagua) representatives in Hidalgo warned of the lake’s danger. Locals shared social media posts showing depleted water levels and dead fish, calling it an environmental disaster that harmed the fishery. They urged authorities to intervene.

The 10km-long, 2.9km-wide lake’s water level dropped twice in three years due to the climate crisis, including a significant reduction in August and September 2020, which was eventually resolved with precipitation.