An “extreme event” rough wavesSome are up to 13 feet (4 meters) tall and have killed three people and caused severe damage to the coastlines of Ecuador, Chile and Peru. According to AFP, nearly 100 ports in the region have been forced to close as dangerous conditions continue to disrupt people’s lives and livelihoods.
Ecuador’s risk management secretary, Jorge Carillo, told a media briefing that the incident was unprecedented and warned that similar phenomena could occur in the future. He confirmed two deaths in the Manta region of southwestern Ecuador, where waves had caused severe damage.
In Chile, a 30-year-old man was found dead on a beach, the third confirmed death linked to the relentless waves, the country’s navy reported.
Peruvian port paralyzed
In neighboring Peru, nearly all ports have been closed. Waves generated by strong winds off the U.S. coast have inundated parts of Peru, submerging marinas and public squares and forcing residents to flee to higher ground. Local authorities closed many beaches along the central and northern coastlines to protect lives.
Images circulated in the media showed severe damage to fishing boats and infrastructure, leaving many fishermen struggling to cope. “We lost about 100 boats,” one fisherman told Peruvian television. “I’m 70 years old and I’ve never seen such unusual and strong waves.”
Despite the challenges, the navy on Saturday rescued 31 fishermen trapped in dangerous waves. However, reports indicate that nearly 180 people are still at sea awaiting rescue.
economic impact
In Callao, a port city near Peru’s largest port of Lima, several beaches were closed and tourists were barred from entering the water.
Peru’s National Emergency Operations Center reports that the phenomenon began on Christmas Day and is expected to last until January 1, and authorities are preparing for further challenges.
