The city of Guasave is facing a humanitarian crisis after the Sinaloa River overflowed due to the passage of tropical storm Ileana.
The intense rains, which lasted for more than 30 hours, left thousands of homes damaged and more than 25 thousand people affected in the municipality.
The rural and urban areas were seriously affected, while local authorities are working tirelessly to assist the affected families.
The mayor of Guasave, Martín Ahumada Quintero, reported that between 4 thousand and 5 thousand homes in the urban area were affected, which directly impacted more than 20 thousand people in the city.
At the municipal level, the number of victims rises to 25 thousand people. The hardest hit neighborhoods include the following colonies:
6 de Enero
Tierra y Libertad
Renato Vega
Jardines del Valle
17 de Mayo.
In rural areas, the situation is equally critical, with 1,286 homes affected and nearly 5,000 people affected, distributed in communities such as:
El Zopilote
Portuguez de Gálvez
La Trinidad
And other towns in the Benito Juárez municipality
The panorama is bleak, with flooded streets, inundated houses and entire families homeless.
Rescue and sanitation efforts are progressing slowly due to the magnitude of the disaster, but municipal and state authorities have deployed a massive operation to clean up the affected areas and prevent outbreaks of disease.
So far, 46 tons of debris and junk have been removed from the impacted areas, in an effort to prevent breeding grounds for mosquitoes that transmit diseases such as dengue.
Deployment of resources and care for victims
To deal with the emergency, the local government mobilized 18 vehicles, including trucks, dump trucks and semi-trailers, with the collaboration of different areas such as Parks and Gardens, Public Services and the Municipal Board of Drinking Water and Sewerage of Guasave (JUMAPAG).
These efforts are focused on the most affected areas, in order to restore essential services and guarantee the safety of the inhabitants.
The affected families are being cared for in temporary shelters, while the authorities distribute food supplies, blankets and mats.
The shelters were essential to offer temporary shelter to those who have lost their homes or cannot return due to the high water level.
One of the main care centers is the Luis Estrada shelter, where several families await transfer back to their communities. Other victims, such as those in the 6 de Enero sector, have already begun to return on foot to their homes to assess the damage.
The authorities, together with the federal government, began a census to identify all affected families and distribute aid through the Welfare Programs.
Damage to infrastructure and services
In addition to the impact on homes, the storm Ileana left severe damage to the infrastructure of Guasave.
The electrical grid was seriously affected, leaving many communities without electricity or drinking water for several days. The collapse of poles and the fall of trees in areas such as Adolfo Ruiz Cortines and Correrepe aggravated the situation, making repair work difficult.
The Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) is working hand in hand with local authorities to restore service in the affected areas as soon as possible.
In the area of communications and transportation, the storm also caused the derailment of a freight train in the municipality of Estación Naranjo, which left three workers injured.
This accident, caused by the softening of the ground, resulted in the derailment of 18 cars. The injured were taken to the hospital in Guasave, where they are reported to be stable, while the Mexican Army activated the DN-III Plan to assist in the rehabilitation of the road.
Impact on the educational sphere
The storm not only affected homes and basic services, but also the educational system. The “Justo Sierra” primary school, in the municipality of Guasave, suffered serious damage due to strong winds and heavy rain.
The roof, air conditioners and windows of the school were destroyed, leaving the 276 students of the morning and afternoon shifts without a place to receive classes.
The educational authorities decided to relocate the students to a nearby secondary school while the necessary repairs are carried out.
Civil Protection began to evaluate the damage to the school, and it is expected that, after a thorough analysis, it will be determined whether the demolition of the roof will be necessary or if it can be rehabilitated.
Source: milenio
