Here's my translation of a local story that is on Por Esto's website, with apologies for the gaps:
COZUMEL, 12 of May.- Just after 6pm on Saturday, a squall that formed between Puerto Morelos and Cozumel touched down on the island causing severe “encharcamientos” in the streets, sinking of boats and even a fire. The storm launched canvases and sheds, and the subsequent flooding covered the drains with a large quantity of trash that had been washed down. The electricity failed in extensive zones of the city, causing serious floods on the streets and neighborhoods of the island.
The storm took the island by surprise, approaching from the west, where the city of San Miguel of Cozumel is located. The city’s central zone received the first onslaught.
The strong storm demolished young trees in medians of the island’s main avenues, such as 65th Avenue.
Some of the fallen trees were planted by the city following the destruction of Hurricane "Wilma" in 2005.
The rain, fueled by horizontal winds, destroyed the outdoor stage that was still in place following performances by Susana Zabaleta and Arming Manzanero two days prior.
The battery flew, as well as the “cortinajes” and covers for the audio equipment, which was subsequently damaged.
Neighborhoods such as the 10 of April [this is the name of the neighborhood] reported severe “encharcamientos” and fallen trees, in addition to damage in weak dwellings.
According to the harbor authorities, the port was closed to boats of 14 meters or less during the time that the storm lasted.
The waterspout damaged the entire city, bringing down a telecommunications antenna in the centro, and even the “varamiento” of a small dive boat that crashed against the sea wall in the central zone of the island. At the same time, firemen were nearby trying to put out a fire in the kitchen of the local Pizza Hut.
The waterspout put the city on alert and mobilized of the services and teams of firemen, civil protection, public security and even the armed forces, all of which were standing by in case intervention was required. As of the closing of this edition, this intervention had not yet been necessary.
By Antonio Rea
