MOURNERS IN MEXICO

Workers at Tijuana’s Municipal Cemetery No. 13 lower the casket of Juan Velasco, who died of COVID-19 symptoms. Numerous burials were held there recently for coronavirus victims as bulldozers cleared land for more in the rocky hillside.

TIJUANA — Dressed in white protective suits, gravediggers in Tijuana last week buried dozens of bodies — casualties of the coronavirus — as bulldozers cleared land for more.

Municipal Cemetery No. 13 stretches across a rocky hillside in the Valle Redondo, about four miles south of the border in far eastern Tijuana. Most of the dead were poor or working class, their graves marked by simple white crosses.

“The majority of the COVID bodies come wrapped in plastic bags and the coffins too are contained in plastic,” one of the gravediggers said.

After each burial, he and the other workers took turns spraying themselves down with disinfectant.

Because of concerns about the spread of the coronavirus, the city government limits how many family members are allowed to attend a funeral and requires them to stand 10 feet back from the grave.

There are 12 other municipal cemeteries in Tijuana, all of which are full, said Jesús Salvador García, Tijuana’s director of cemeteries.

“I can’t tell you the total number buried in the whole city because there are also private cemeteries and the option of cremation, which is the decision of the family,” he said.

At least 35 victims of COVID-19 have been buried at Municipal Cemetery No. 13.

Marcus Yam Los Angeles Times

Photographs by Marcus Yam Los Angeles Times WORKERS prepare graves at Municipal Cemetery No. 13 in Tijuana. Those who bury the dead wear protective suits and spray themselves down with disinfectant.

A FUNERAL HOME worker, above, prepares to unload a casket at the Tijuana cemetery. To fight the coronavirus, the city government limits how many family members are allowed to attend a funeral.

A RELATIVE arrives with f lowers for Velasco’s burial this week. At least 35 COVID-19 victims have been buried at Municipal Cemetery No. 13. The 12 other municipal cemeteries are full.

PASTOR Samuel Hernandez, right, assists Christian Acosta outside Tijuana General Hospital last week. Acosta, who has a cough and breathing problems, planned to seek treatment.

NORA LASSETE at the grave of Juan Velasco in Tijuana’s Municipal Cemetery No. 13. He died of COVID-19 symptoms.