Weston Wilson's post
Weston Wilson
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Much attention has recently been focused on the devastation experienced in the southeastern United States in the wake of Hurricane Helene. But in Mexico, extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change have wreaking havoc on many communities, too.
Alelhí Salgado of Mexico's El Universal writes of one such community, the small city of Coyuca de Benítez in Guerrero State. She spoke to Samuel Rodríguez, a 12-year-old boy, who recalls how relentless rains from Hurricane John flooded his family’s home, uprooted trees, and washed away walls. While they managed to escape, the aftermath has been devastating. His sisters are sick with dengue, his father suffers from a serious leg injury, and his mother battles depression. The family had already lost their roof to yet another violent storm, Hurricane Otis, just weeks earlier. And then the flooding from Hurricane John forced them to evacuate.
Conditions in the area are dire. Samuel describes a town buried in mud and debris. The streets are littered with shattered glass, furniture, and dead animals. Houses are ruined, cars overturned, and the streets tangled with downed power lines. While the National Guard and Army maintain a constant presence, the ground remains too soft for heavy vehicles, and residents must walk long distances to find basic supplies.
The Rodríguez family, like many others, feels abandoned and fears Guerrero’s worsening climate, which has turned their state into a "ticking time bomb." Despite visits from Governor Evelyn Salgado and aid from the National Guard, they are making plans to leave Guerrero, unable to endure another catastrophic October.
As must always be emphasized, any assertion that chalks up a natural disaster exclusively to climate change is flimsy. However, as we have seen in recent weeks, months, and years, extreme weather is intensifying and occurring more frequently. Experts agree that this intensification is driven by climate change. Samuel's heartbreaking story illustrates the critical nature and urgency of climate change mitigation and resiliency building.
Read Salgado's full story here (in Spanish):
âPerdimos todo otra vez en menos de un añoâ | El Universal
La familia RodrÃguez, de Coyuca de BenÃtez, salió con vida de la tormenta, pero todos están mal
https://www.eluniversal.com.mx/estados/perdimos-todo-otra-vez-en-menos-de-un-ano/
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8 w
Please the government to intervene with appropriate measures inorder to help them
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8 w
Urgent action and support are needed to protect these communities from further devastation.
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8 w
it's extremely sad watching how communities are getting affected by these weather events