'Like nothing we have ever faced'
Local authorities say the storm is stronger than Hurricane Gilbert, which devastated the Yucatan Peninsula in 1988.
El Universal
October 22, 2005
Widespread flooding in Isla Mujeres, a ferry stranded on a coral reef and devastation to buildings and roads were the first reports of damage from
Quintana Roo on Friday as Hurricane Wilma continued its slow bludgeoning of the state.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Quintana Roo Gov. F?lix Gonz?lez Canto said Cancun, Cozumel and Playa del Carmen were taking the brunt of the
storm, adding that buildings on Cozumel Island that were reinforced against hurricane-force winds had collapsed.
But as of early Friday evening there were no reports of deaths, and the governor expressed confidence his state would be able to withstand the storm.
"We are sure we will get through this because, among the people of Quintana Roo, we have a strong culture of hurricane preparedness," Gonz?lez Canto
said.
The eye of the hurricane was 35 miles wide and took as long as seven hours to pass over a given spot, leading Mexican officials to express concern
that many people might be fooled by the eye's calm winds and leave their shelters prematurely.
In addition, specialists with the National Meteorlogical System (SMN) believe hurricane conditions will remain across the zone until Saturday evening
indicating the risk to life is far from over.
On the first day of the storm, damage reports were already considerable.
Shortly after noon, in Playa del Carmen, a 30 kilogram stationary gas tank in one of its most densely populated neighborhoods was ripped off the
ground by hurricane-force winds, hurling it into a home where it exploded, leaving seven people badly injured. Three had 95 percent of their body
burned.
Storm surge severed links between Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum and inland roads were littered with fallen trees and debris.
High winds blew out windows and ripped off parts of the roof of a Playa del Carmen hospital. Heavy damage to the town's city hall was also reported.
Shortly after 2 p.m. Friday, the mayor of Isla Mujeres, Manuela Godoy, reported flooding across the island. In an interview with Radio Ayuntamiento,
she said the island's salinas, or dry swamps, were overflowing and threatening to inundate nearby buildings.
In addition, waves as high as 10 meters (33 feet) overwhelmed a retaining embankment sending waters rushing across the island, located just northeast
of Cancun.
At 3:35 p.m. off the coast of Chetumal, near the Belize border, the passenger ferry Cozumel 2 ran aground over the Banco Chinchorro coral reef,
according to naval officer Miguel ?ngel Ramos Leal.
Ramos Leal said the 17 passengers and captain had ample water and food and should be fine until rescue crews can come to their assistance.
Officials in Cancun, who successfully managed Hurricane Emily this year with no loss of life, said they had never faced such a dangerous storm. Their
faces were grim at a meeting in the Cancun City Hall at noon when it was announced the police could no longer extract people lingering in dangerous
zones without endangering themselves, according to the New York Times.
"From the beginning, we said the conditions that we would face in Cancun are like nothing we have ever faced from nature," said Cancun Mayor Francisco
Alor Quesada.
Hector Tobar and Sam Enriquez of the Los Angeles Times and James C. McKinley Jr. of the New York Times contributed to this report.
Stalled Out
MrBillM - 10-22-2005 at 10:13 AM
At this time, Wilma has stalled over the Yucatan Penninsula. Hopefully, it will burn out enough over Mexico that it will not be a substantial threat
to the Gulf Coast or the Atlantic seaboard.bajajudy - 10-22-2005 at 10:27 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by MrBillM
At this time, Wilma has stalled over the Yucatan Penninsula. Hopefully, it will burn out enough over Mexico that it will not be a substantial threat
to the Gulf Coast or the Atlantic seaboard.
Where exactly do you live? Hoping that something bad happens to Mexico rubs me the wrong way. A lot of people live where you wish this hurricane
stalled. Instead lets pray for them.
[Edited on 10-22-2005 by bajajudy]
[Edited on 10-22-2005 by bajajudy]
Caring and Compassionate
MrBillM - 10-22-2005 at 10:35 AM
That's Me, but Hey, Gee Whiz, it's already pounding Mexico so the best scenario would be for it to wear itself out there. Somewhere that my tax
dollars are not at work.
Don't worry about the Tourist destinations. They'll get rebuilt because there is money to be made. The same won't be true for the average Jose and
that's unfortunate.bajajudy - 10-22-2005 at 10:47 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by MrBillM
Don't worry about the Tourist destinations. They'll get rebuilt because there is money to be made. The same won't be true for the average Jose and
that's unfortunate.
So exactly who do you want to get "pounded"Spyderman - 10-22-2005 at 03:13 PM
This is a real shame, that this hurricane has basically sat on Mexico for two days. The devastation must be getting pretty bad. I heard reports on
the news that there are two reported deaths at this time. I hope we as a people are as anxious to help these victims as we are to help or own.bajajudy - 10-22-2005 at 03:26 PM
Amen, Spyderguy
BajaJudy
MrBillM - 10-22-2005 at 05:59 PM
I don't WANT anyone to get pounded, killed or displaced (other than some Moslems). I don't care one way or the other since it has no effect on me. I
have no power in that respect. No one does. Events in life occur as they will without human direction or intervention. Hundreds or thousands will
die each day somewhere in this world and we won't feel their loss. Our lives will go on unaffected. As a practical matter, it is better if property
is destroyed in areas that will not affect my taxes, but even there I have no control.Bob H - 10-25-2005 at 08:25 AM
The latest....
Stranded tourists start leaving storm-hit Cancun
Mon Oct 24, 2005 11:24 PM ET
(Updates with U.S. transport program, quotes)
By Noel Randewich
CANCUN, Mexico, Oct 24 (Reuters) - The first few foreign tourists headed home from Cancun on Monday, but thousands remained in stinking shelters where
they have been stranded for days by Hurricane Wilma's assault on the Mexican beach resort.
The U.S. consulate bused about 1,600 citizens to the city of Merida to arrange for flights home, but some 20,000 vacationers spent a fifth day
sleeping on floors or in stuffy rooms without electricity or running water.
"We're finally getting out, we haven't seen our family in two weeks -- no water, no sanitation," said Gladys Jiles, 56, a California retiree waiting
at a wrecked Cancun shopping center for the consulate's free bus.
Hurricane Wilma, one of the strongest Atlantic storms recorded, wrecked Cancun over the weekend, gutting huge hotels before pounding Cuba and Florida.
Jiles and her husband spent the storm in a sixth-floor hotel room that turned soggy after the air conditioning unit blew out of the wall and let rain
pour in.
"I miss mi casa, my house, my dog, my family. I have seven kids and I miss them all," Jiles said before running to catch the last bus. The consulate
said it planned to use rented buses to move about 1,600 tourists a day to Merida.
Cancun is Mexico's main resort, a major source of jobs and the jewel of a tourism industry that is the country's third-biggest earner of foreign
currency.
Wilma killed at least seven people in Cancun, the nearby resort of Playa del Carmen and on the island of Cozumel. Some reports spoke of 12 dead.
Federal police guarded supermarkets to prevent looting, but a convenience store was raided for food and soft drinks. Authorities declared a night-time
curfew.
"I am totally and utterly fed up and dying to get out of here. It's been horrible," said Sally Goodrick, 42, a British beauty therapist traveling with
her mother.
She ate pork and chicken from a plastic plate in the lobby of a hotel turned makeshift shelter, where overflowing toilets had created a tear-provoking
stench and sent filthy water up the stairwell.
One American demanded aid from Washington. "We need help in here and they're not helping us," she screamed. "They should be flying in planes or
helicopters or something. Give us water! Give us food!"
FOX ANGRY
An angry President Vicente Fox demanded that the army and police set up a joint command center in Cancun to stop looting and help tourists out. "I
want that command center operating 100 percent right now," he shouted to local officials.
Concerned that residents were going hungry, Fox interrupted federal civic protection chief Carmen Segura, who told him supplies were on the way.
"Leave it out, Carmen. I don't know if the supplies are finished or not or if they are in people's stomachs, but I don't see them here," he snapped.
Another 18,000 tourists were stuck in Playa del Carmen and the Tourism Ministry said Wilma would cost the industry $800 million. A hotel owners'
association priced the damage at nearly twice that amount.
There were signs of recovery despite the chaos. Floods receded from the streets and cars ferried building materials to repair broken homes and
businesses.
Tourists and locals mobbed a hot dog vendor at Cancun's bus station, as bus service to Merida resumed. And Cancun and Cozumel airports were to open on
Tuesday after remaining shut since Thursday, the transport ministry said.Capt. George - 10-25-2005 at 06:32 PM
wasn't too kind to Key West FL....had a little damage at my house i Ramrod Key
going there in November....."FOR SALE" never there anyway, always in Baja
Capt. George
hey georgie!!!
woody with a view - 10-25-2005 at 06:46 PM
said presidente V. FOX, "I don't know if the supplies are finished or not or if they are in people's stomachs, but I don't see them here."
Where are the cajones of our leaders? granted, mexico has a vested interest in keeping $ from tourism flowing. it seems V. FOX doesn't stand for
double talk and inuendo, only action. but don't our elected officials owe it to their constituents to be just as, if not more aggresive?
aw, she-ite! who am i fooling? i'm probably just 1 ballena closer to bed anyway-Spyderman - 10-26-2005 at 05:11 AM
Wilma sure passed over Florida rapidly.Spyderman - 10-26-2005 at 05:12 AM
George, tell us a little about the place for sale in Florida.Capt. George - 10-27-2005 at 06:07 AM
will enter next year, wanna go with me Whistler???would be too cool.
looking forward to seeing you head to FLmid Nov return mid Dec
House in FL 2 (3) BR 2 bath 185 ft Canal Front 10 miutes to open ocean 5 minutes to bonefish flats 30 min to Key West 30 minutes to
Marathon 80 miles to Cuba 140 miles to Miami good fishing beautiful waters just too many people and things for me....hence my home in PA more
to my liking.........
