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Mexico City has conducted thousands of building safety evaluations since the 2017 earthquake. A recent report reveals that Iztapalapa, Cuauhtémoc, and Tláhuac are key areas with numerous properties assessed for varying levels of risk. While Iztapalapa leads in the total number of cases, Cuauhtémoc has the highest concentration of buildings in the most critical category.
Thousands of Buildings Reviewed, Hundreds at High Risk
According to a report by El Economista, which obtained information through transparency requests, the Institute for Construction Safety (ISC) issued assessments for 6,539 properties between 2017 and September 2026. Of these, 221 were classified as having a high risk of collapse, 927 with high risk, 2,809 with medium risk, and 2,582 with low risk.
Iztapalapa Leads in Total Cases; Cuauhtémoc in Critical Classifications
Iztapalapa accounts for the largest number of evaluated properties, with 1,218 buildings distributed across all four risk categories. Cuauhtémoc, however, has the highest concentration of critically classified buildings, with 66 structures deemed to be at a high risk of collapse.
The report also identifies Cuajimalpa de Morelos, Iztapalapa, Benito Juárez, and Álvaro Obregón as boroughs with a significant number of properties in the critical category. Tláhuac is also prominent in the overall count, although specific figures for this area were not detailed in the provided information.
It is important to note a limitation in these figures: the Mexico City government did not specify how many buildings were demolished or rehabilitated following the initial evaluations. Therefore, the cumulative data does not confirm that all these buildings currently retain their originally recorded risk status.
How Building Risk is Determined
On its page regarding Structural Safety Assessments for Existing Buildings, the ISC explains that Mexico City faces a high seismic risk due to its subsoil characteristics, particularly in the lakebed area where soft soils predominate.
The agency states that Civil Protection intervenes first, and if a high risk is determined, it formally requests a structural evaluation. The inspection involves both the interior and exterior of the property, including technical data, photographs, and historical records. Accredited personnel or a certified reviewer conduct these assessments. Factors considered include building materials, foundations, damage to columns and walls, subsidence, inclination, and maintenance.
Guidelines published in the Official Gazette on September 22, 2016, stipulate that the assessment must include conclusions on stability and mandatory recommendations. They also allow for additional information requests and multiple site visits when necessary.
Government Initiatives and Reconstruction Efforts
According to El Economista, the Mexico City administration launched the Comprehensive Care Program for High-Risk Properties in September 2025. Concurrently, the Reconstruction Commission reported over 20,500 homes completed by September 2026, with resources also allocated for studies, demolitions, and rental assistance.
These ongoing efforts highlight the city’s commitment to addressing structural safety concerns and supporting residents affected by past seismic events.
