4 fishermen missing after storm whips Yucatán

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Police monitor Thursday’s storm in Progreso. Photo: SSP

Mérida, Yucatán — At least four fishermen have been missing since a surprisingly powerful storm hammered the state Thursday afternoon. 

Mérida and Progreso were the areas most affected by the squall, according to reports from the Civil Protection Unit and the Public Security Secretariat.

Numerous cars were crushed by fallen trees during a squall Thursday afternoon in Yucatán. Photo: SSP

Police received 150 calls on the 911 emergency line. Residents reported about 60 fallen trees as well as six cars and five houses crushed by telephone poles.

Nineteen traffic lights were destroyed in the high winds, as well. 

Winds reached 90 kph/55 mph with gusts of 100 kph/62 mph.

By today, roads were cleared and power was restored, according to local police. Residents still had to deal with property damage, scattered patio furniture and debris.

Light poles no match for high winds in Yucatán on Thursday. Photo: SSP

Aaron Palomo Euán, state director of Civil Protection, said the hardest-hit areas were the west of Mérida and the port city of Progreso.

Three Carnival cruise ship passengers were injured at the terminal when hit by an overturned post. Most tourists stayed on the ship “Valor” during their stormy port of call. The ship departed by 6 p.m. without further incident.

The Navy is searching for three fishing boats and four fishermen. Two boats are from Celestún and one is from Progreso. The latter boat, the “Chonki 4,” departed Progreso earlier Thursday and its last known coordinates were far off the coast.

Sources: Milenio, Diario de Yucatán, Facebook, Progreso Hoy, SSP

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