Chetumal, Q.R. — Torrential rain slammed the southern region of Quintana Roo Friday leaving a trail of destruction. Hundreds of southern homes were reported flooded along with streets and even some shopping malls.
Parts of Chetumal and Tulum are still without power due to the extremely heavy downpour. On Saturday morning, the INE of Tulum announced its closure due to flooding in Chetumal and the continued lack of electricity in Tulum.
“Good morning to the entire community! Due to force majeure, today, Saturday, June 15, there will be no service at the Citizen Service Modules in Chetumal and Tulum. Chetumal is flooded and Tulum has no electricity! Thank you for your understanding!” the Instituto en el Distrito Electoral 02 de Quintana Roo posted.
State Coordination of Civil Protection (Coeproc) was out Friday night along with municipal emergency service teams assisting stranded pedestrians and motorists alike. Military personnel were sent into the streets in heavy duty vehicles to rescue soaked pedestrians who were caught off-guard by the rain.
Dozens of shoppers found stranded inside plazas were escorted out by Marina in a rescue mission due to the downpour that restricted visibility and left streets impassable on foot. A similar scene was reported in Tulum where some streets were flooded and power outed.
“We are currently dealing with severe ponding and minor flooding that has been occurring due to heavy rains last night and early this morning. These and more measures will continue throughout the rainy season.
Photo: June 14, 2024.
“We continue to recommend extreme caution this weekend and next week as the rain forecast indicates that the potential for storms will continue in our area,” Dirección General de Proteccion Civil y Bomberos Tulum reported in a statement Saturday morning.
According to Conagua, as much as 250 mms of rain was forecast to fall between Friday night and Saturday morning. While torrential rains were forecast around the state, it was the south that was hit hardest.
In the municipality of Othón P. Blanco, a highway landslide was reported beside a section of Maya Train overpass. Heavy machinery was brought in Friday afternoon to remove the gravel that collapsed due to rain.
A section of highway was left blocked at an intersection after several tons slide down its own embankment onto the highway.
“Due to a landslide caused by the rains, state police personnel in coordination with workers from the Mayan Train are supporting the removal of dirt from the road with machinery.
“Likewise, the elements maintain a road operation to prevent traffic from being affected, however, they call on drivers to drive with caution if they have to travel through the area,” the Secretaría de Seguridad Ciudadana (SSC) reported.
The State Secretary of Civil Protection issued an explanation for the extreme weather. “The storm affecting the southeast of the Yucatan Peninsula is motivated by a phenomenon known as the “Central American Gyre”, a cyclonic circulation that raises the monsoon trough and bringing abundant humidity from the Pacific, exacerbating the conditions of heavy to torrential rains in regions of Central America.”
According to the State agency, just over 80 mms of rain fell between Friday evening and Saturday morning. Coordinación Estatal de Protección Civil of Quintana Roo says 48.3 mms of rain was recorded Friday and 32.5 mms Saturday morning.
Emergency crews are out in full force pumping roads and removing stranded vehicles from the night before. Local authorities have not reported any major injuries or deaths.
