After three days of intense search efforts, authorities have located the body of Officer Agustín Malo Martínez, the operational deputy director of the Municipal Police of Ocoyucan. He went missing while responding to an emergency caused by heavy rains that hit the Puebla metropolitan area on Wednesday.

The General Coordination of Civil Protection and Disaster Risk Management credited the discovery to the coordinated work of state, federal, and municipal agencies.

According to official reports, Malo was swept away by the current of the Atoyac River while trying to assist during the storm in Santa Clara Ocoyucan on that same Wednesday. His body was found about 100 meters downstream from the Humberto Vidal neighborhood bridge after the river’s water level receded.

The day before, rescue teams had already found the official patrol car submerged in the riverbed. Inside were the lifeless bodies of three women, whom the officer reportedly tried to save before the vehicle was dragged away by the floodwaters.

The operation involved personnel from State Civil Protection, Firefighters, the National Guard, the Secretariat of National Defense, and state and municipal police forces. They conducted thorough ground and river inspections until they successfully located the officer.

This tragic event, caused by the Atoyac River’s overflow, has resulted in four confirmed deaths: Officer Agustín Malo Martínez and the three women found inside the patrol car.

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by emergency responders in Puebla’s flood-prone areas and underscores the critical need for resilient infrastructure and effective disaster management systems. As the region continues to develop, investments in public safety and innovative transportation solutions, such as the upcoming cable car system in Puebla, could play a vital role in improving access and response times during emergencies.