Genevieve leaves 6 dead, damage amid tourist recovery in Mexico
Mexico City, Aug 19 (efe-epa).- Although risk persists, Genevieve was downgraded Wednesday to a category 1 hurricane after leaving at least six dead and damage in Mexican Pacific states that are in full tourist recovery after the COVID-19 crisis.
Authorities from the state of Oaxaca, in the south, reported four deaths from the rains caused by Genevieve since the weekend, while the National Civil Protection Coordination (CNPC) reported two deaths in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, a tourist spot in the northwest.
The deaths in Los Cabos are of a tourist who entered the sea and the lifeguard who tried to rescue her, which reflects the challenge faced by Baja California Sur, where there are already about 15,000 visitors after the economic reactivation, reported its Ministry of Tourism, Economy and Sustainability (Setues).
“It is logical that it is difficult at this time because everything is complicated, but we try to fulfill the work here,” Carlos Alberto Jiménez, an employee of a beach club in Los Cabos, told EFE.
After reaching category 4, Genevieve weakened Wednesday to category 1, but its current center is only 170 kilometers south of Cabo San Lucas, reported the National Meteorological Service (SMN).
The hurricane, the seventh of the Pacific season, will move parallel to the Baja California Peninsula until Monday, although the SMN predicted that it will weaken to a tropical storm on Friday.
For now, added SMN, its cloud bands cause “torrential” rains in Baja California Sur, “intense” in Sinaloa and Nayarit, and “very strong” in Durango and Jalisco.
It brings gusts of 90 to 100 kilometers per hour as well as waves of 6-8 meters in Baja California Sur, and gusts of 50 to 60 kilometers with waves of up to 6 meters in Sinaloa, Nayarit and Jalisco.
“Take extreme precautions to the general population in the areas of the states mentioned by rains, wind and waves, including maritime navigation,” recommended the SMN.
The SMN has warned of an “extremely active” hurricane season with a forecast of up to 18 in the Pacific and up to 19 in the Atlantic.
But for some tourist workers, such as Renato Aguirre, cyclones are something they are “used to,” so they still go to work.
“Usually the tide always hits us. Since we are on the edge of the sea, it always hits us hard. It is usual… but at the same time we have to take precautionary measures,” Renato, a security guard in Los Cabos, told EFE.
Civil Protection reported that there are 8 million inhabitants in risk areas in the five states most affected by the hurricane: Michoacán, Colima, Jalisco, Nayarit and Baja California Sur.
It has so far notified the evacuation of 14 families in Cihuatlán, Jalisco, and of 17 active temporary shelters with 178 people in Baja California Sur. EFE-EPA
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