Hurricane Polo triggers huge waves in coastal Mexican city

Hurricane Polo, a Category 5 storm, unleashed massive waves on Mexico's southern coast on Thursday, prompting residents of Lazaro Cardenas to hastily construct sandbags to safeguard their properties, which were at risk from the intense hurricane. However, the storm's strong swells and torrential rain overwhelmed these protective measures, causing cracks in building facades.

The hotel owner, Concepcion Lopez, lamented the damage to her establishment, stating, "Our buildings have been falling apart." Hurricane Polo, located approximately 240 kilometers off the coast of Guerrero state, continued to threaten the northward-moving coastal city of Michoacan, where Lazaro Cardenas is situated. To mitigate the threat, Mexico dispatched 1,700 troops to Michoacan, with armed soldiers patrolling the beaches in the affected area.

The storm's fury was evident in another coastal hotel, where waves destroyed one of two swimming pools, and further flooding threatened the other. Owner Gudelia Ochoa expressed her concern, saying, "More flooding is wrecking the other one; it's also reaching my kitchen." Despite the impending danger, both owners held onto hope that the hurricane would not cause irreparable harm.

Meteorologists forecast torrential rain, winds between 70 and 90 kilometers per hour, and waves of at least 6 to 8 meters along parts of Mexico's Pacific coast. A civil protection news release urged those in alert zones and at risk of flooding, landslides, or rising rivers to take extreme precautions. Mexico, prone to hurricanes on both its Pacific and Atlantic coasts between May and November, is currently experiencing an intensified storm season due to the El Niño weather pattern.

Hurricane Polo remained offshore but brought powerful swells and heavy rain to Mexico's Pacific coast, resulting in flooding and damage to seaside buildings. Authorities warned of further flooding and landslides as the storm moved north, emphasizing that landfall was not expected.