A moving image went through social networks after the catastrophic floods recorded last week in Mexico. A type of event that had not been seen in 25 years, and affected the eastern part of the Latin American country.
In addition to accounting for the human losses – estimated in 64 deaths and 65 missing according to the most recent report from the National Civil Protection Coordination (CNPC) -, the authorities initiated a census of affected homes for the attention of victims.
The consequences of the intense rains ranged from destroyed cars to moments of despair with people climb to the roofs of the houses. Others were seen attempting save your pets in streets covered by more than a meter of water.
But those who were on the lips of more than a million social media users were two older adultswho left a tender image in the midst of the tragedy.
The hug of an elderly couple in Veracruz
This last October 10, the couple grandparents from the Mexican municipality of Poza Ricain Veracruz, appealed to the deep love of each other in the most dramatic minutes.
The couple from the Morelos neighborhood, in Poza Rica, was saved after waiting in each other’s arms. Photo: ElMañanaLos older adults They clung to each other with a big hug in the middle of a flood that had already left his house underwater. Wet up to the kneesuncertainty cornered them.
Waiting for a rescuer, they were on the roof of their one-story house, the woman sitting on an air conditionerand the man standing.
It is believed that they got up there after being helped by some neighbors, he reported. TV Azteca. Luckily, people identified as Don Esteban y Mrs. Isabelwho lived on Porfirio Díaz Street, in the Morelos neighborhood, were saved and taken by boat to a safe place.
What was the cause of the rains in Mexico
The rains caused problems in 117 municipalities of the country. The most affected places – in which there were fatalities – were Veracruz, Hidalgo, Pueblay Queretarowhile in San Luis Potosí there was severe material damage.
Los meteorological phenomena that caused the death of 65 people and 64 missing people in six of the 32 federal states, were the Hurricane Priscilla and the tropical storm Raymond.
The latter was formed last Thursday off the coast of Guerrero. According to the Mexican National Meteorological Service, it was generated in confluence with the remnants of the hurricane mentioned and other systems in the Atlantic Ocean.
The most affected states mentioned above had shocking rainfall: In just four days, it rained more than 1,800 millimeters, an amount comparable to half the annual average in such regions.
The torrential rains left dozens dead and missing. Photo: REUTERS/Rolando RamosOn the other hand, by the time the rains appeared, the riverbeds rivers were higher than usual, due to previous rainfall.
However, it was «an extraordinary eventthe result of several phenomena that occurred at the same time,» explained Arturo Quintanar, a UNAM scientist, to the BBC.
The day after an event not seen in 25 years
The President Claudia Sheinbaum assured that «there were no meteorological conditions» that anticipated the devastating floods in the east of Mexicoan event not seen in 25 years.
«It was not expected to be of this magnitude. There was no scientific conditionmeteorological, that could tell us that the rain was going to be of this magnitude»The president stated this Monday.
In permanent communication between the authorities and the families involved in the natural disasterSheinbaum promised that his government «will not leave anyone helpless.»
In addition, he emphasized the work of caring for the victims. “Obviously, when one has a house that is full of mud There is great desperation, and the family’s hands are not enough to be able to clean and a lot of support is required of the government. And that is precisely what we are reinforcing”he stated in a recent press conference.
