Mérida, Yucatán — Rain and humidity took its toll Saturday on an abandoned mansion in the Centro, causing it to partially collapse.
Several sections of the old house, at the corner of Calle 65 and 44, had over the years accumulated earth, trees and undergrowth, but it was the recent heavy rains that finally brought down its walls.
Some of the facade fell along with a significant portion of the ground floor ceiling and a section of the second floor. Large stones and metal railings fell on Calle 65, scattering on the road.
Officials from the Ministry of Public Security closed one of the two lanes on Calle 65 and cordoned off the site. No injuries were reported, but some passersby were startled by the collapse.
The heaviest downpour so far this year was brought by tropical wave No. 7, dropping between 20 and 50 mm (0.7 and 1.96 inches) of rainfall across the city.
At Circuito Colonias at Calle 60, at least four vehicles were stranded and their owners had to push them to a shopping center parking lot to dry.
In that same area at least four service stations lost electricity and could not pump gas, and some restaurants reported flooding.
Cars were briefly stranded in the Prolongacíon Paseo Montejo’s short tunnel.
Meteorologists counted 430 lightning strikes and winds up to 80.5 kilometers per hour (50 mph), recorded at 3 p.m.
Several outdoor events were suspended including a Leones baseball game against the Saraperos de Saltillo.
Moderate to heavy rainfall and lightning is predicted again today and tomorrow.
Sources: Sipse and Diario de Yucatán
