Background on Claudia Sheinbaum and Relevance
Claudia Sheinbaum is the current President of Mexico City, serving since 2018. However, in this instance, she is acting as the head of the Federal Government’s response to natural disasters. Her role extends beyond her city limits, as she oversees the country’s response to severe weather events. Her expertise and leadership in managing crises make her a crucial figure when addressing issues like the recent hurricane “Erick” that affected Oaxaca.
Hurricane “Erick” Impact on Oaxaca
On the afternoon of Friday, President Claudia Sheinbaum conducted an aerial tour to assess the damage caused by Hurricane “Erick” in various regions of Oaxaca. The hurricane, which struck as a Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, brought intense rainfall and strong winds to the coastal areas near Guerrero’s border.
Accompanying Officials
During the aerial survey, Sheinbaum was accompanied by:
- Oaxaca Governor Salomón Jara
- Rosa Icela Rodríguez, Secretary of the Interior (Segob)
- Ricardo Trevilla Trejo, Secretary of Defense (Semar)
- Raymundo Pedro Morales, Admiral of the Navy (Semar)
- Jesús Antonio Esteva Medina, Secretary of Communications and Transportation (SICT)
- Ariadna Montiel Reyes, Secretary of Well-being (Bienestar)
- Efraín Morales, Secretary of National Water Commission (Conagua)
- Alejandro Svarch and Laura Velázquez Alzúa from IMSS-Bienestar
- Raymundo Pedro Morales from the National Coordination of Civil Protection (CNPC)
Casualties and Damages
During her morning briefing, Sheinbaum confirmed the tragic death of a minor in Guerrero due to intense rainfall caused by Hurricane “Erick.” The child was swept away by a current while attempting to cross a hazardous area.
“There was the unfortunate loss of a young boy because he crossed an area with a strong current. We are in close contact with the Guerrero family through their government, but there have been no other human losses; primarily material damages,” Sheinbaum stated.
Isolated Communities and Restoration Efforts
Sheinbaum mentioned that some communities in the region remained isolated due to road blockages and river overflows. Military and naval personnel worked diligently to restore communication.
The power company, CFE, had already restored service to 51% of the nearly 277,000 customers who experienced outages, according to a presidential statement.
Hurricane “Erick” Details
Hurricane “Erick” made landfall near Oaxaca’s coast on Thursday morning as a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, briefly intensifying to Category 4 before making landfall.
Coastal communities like Lagunas de Chacahua bore the brunt of the storm, with palm-roofed homes and businesses suffering significant damage. Streets were flooded, and the Associated Press (AFP) reported extensive destruction.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who conducted the aerial survey? President Claudia Sheinbaum, accompanied by various federal officials.
- What was the intensity of Hurricane “Erick” upon landfall? It made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane and briefly intensified to Category 4.
- What were the primary impacts of Hurricane “Erick” in Oaxaca? Intense rainfall caused flooding, damaged homes and businesses, and resulted in one tragic fatality.
- What challenges remain following the hurricane? Some communities are isolated due to road blockages and river overflows, with ongoing efforts to restore communication and power.
