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Cancun prepared for the passing of Hurricane Helene

Cancun, Q.R. — While the city of Cancun prepared for the passing of Helene, nearby islands set up emergency shelters. On Tuesday, State Civil Protection reported the northern region to be the most affected by the passing of Helene, who, according to the NOAA, will scrape past Cancun as a near category 1 with hurricane force winds.

Areas in the north have been given a heightened alert, while the central and southern regions of the state’s coastal areas remain on a low alert. Estatal de Protección Civil (State Civil Protection) has increased the danger alert for Cancun, Isla Mujeres, Lázaro Cárdenas (Holbox) and Puerto Morelos.

For the center of the state, Solidaridad (Playa del Carmen), Cozumel, Tulum and Felipe Carrillo Puerto, remain at a green or low danger alert while the south, Othón P. Blanco, Bacalar and José María Morelos remain at a blue or minimal danger alert.

Isla Mujeres Mayor Atenea Gómez Ricalde says a total of six emergency shelters are in place, four on the mainland and two on the island for the strong winds that are expected to hit the small island Wednesday.

She reported the last ferry run from the island to the mainland was scheduled at 4:00 p.m., however, due to the volume of people leaving Isla Mujeres, Ultramar was forced to add one last run at 4:30 p.m.

Photo: Isla Mujeres September 24, 2024.

Gómez Ricalde says ferry services between the island and mainland are now suspended, while reminding islanders that services at gas stations, shops and self-service stores have sufficient supplies and will work normal hours as long as the weather conditions allow.

Photo: Holbox September 24, 2024.

Ferry services from the island of Holbox to the mainland were also busy Tuesday ahead of Helene. Free ferry services were provided to anyone wishing to self-vacate from the island Tuesday. Dozens of people were at the dock to make their way to the mainland before the passing of Helene.

Authorities in Cancun were busy emptying beaches and implementing emergency plans ahead of the storm’s arrival. Dozens of red flags were placed beside now-empty lifeguard stands along the city’s beaches.

Photo: Cancun Hotel Zone September 24, 2024.

Cancun residents crowded stores to make last minute purchases while fishermen were busy pulling their boats from the sea. Dozens of men lined the beach area of Puerto Juarez, north of Cancun, manually hauling their vessels out of the water and onto land.

Photo: Puerto Juarez fishermen September 24, 2024.

The move was made after the National Hurricane Centre (NOAA) updated their trajectory forecast Tuesday afternoon, reporting Helene to be a near category 1 hurricane as it scrapes by the northern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula.

“Helene is forecast to intensify and be near hurricane strength when it passes near the northeastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula on Wednesday, where a hurricane warning is in effect,” the NOAA reported.