Government investigates murder of journalist in Puebla: Sheinbaum

Government reinforces actions against sargassum in Quintana Roo

President Claudia Sheinbaum assured that her administration will make the “maximum effort” to reduce the arrival of sargassum to the coasts of Quintana Roo. The announcement was made from Tulum, during his morning conference on Friday, July 17.

He acknowledged that this month the presence of the algae increased and that the acquisition of more specialized vessels for its collection is planned.

“It is very difficult to prevent, to address the fundamental cause, it is complex and it is an international issue, in any case. What we can do is prevent sargassum from reaching the beaches or make our maximum effort to reduce the arrival of sargassum to the beaches,” he said.

The state government of Mara Lezama, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, the Ministry of the Navy and the Ministry of Science and Technology lead a comprehensive program against the problem.

Sheinbaum explained that the strategy includes the purchase of more Sargacero boats to capture the seaweed at sea, as well as the installation of additional barriers in coordination with hoteliers.

“And take that sargassum to a center so that it can be recycled and used in some economic activities, whether it is production of energy or construction materials, or other possibilities that sargassum has, but it has to be fished in the sea and for this we need more capacity,” he explained.

The plan seeks to contain the environmental and tourist impact of sargassum, a recurring phenomenon in the Mexican Caribbean.

Seismic swarm in the Pacific of Chiapas

The National Seismological Service reported 14 earthquakes in the last 24 hours in the Pacific region of Chiapas, until 8:48 a.m. The largest magnitude, 7.4, had its epicenter 95 kilometers southwest of Huixtla. So far this year, the entity has accumulated 3,470 earthquakes, which places it as the third state with the most activity, out of a national total of 21,692 events, according to the Secretariat of Civil Protection.

Governor Eduardo Ramírez Aguilar reported that there is no major damage. Only minor damages were reported in Tapachula and Suchiate. As a preventive measure, work in government offices was suspended. “I ask that those who can please stay at home and with their family. Let’s stay calm. Everything is in order,” he declared.

Tsunami alert and recommendations

The Tsunami Warning Center of the Ministry of the Navy issued a warning for the South Pacific coast, on the coasts of Chiapas and Oaxaca, and coastal areas of Guatemala. Variations in sea level of up to 105 centimeters are expected. The authorities asked the population to move away from the beaches immediately and avoid navigation until the alert is canceled.

The earthquake, originally calculated at 6.8, was relocated to 135 kilometers southwest of Ciudad Hidalgo, on the border with Guatemala. So far, no victims or material damage have been reported. The Civil Protection Secretariat maintains monitoring in the regions for possible aftershocks. The population is recommended to remain calm and stay in safe areas.

Earthquake triggers emergency in Tapachula

Two consecutive earthquakes of 7.4 and 5.8 shook Chiapas this morning, leaving one woman injured. The person, of foreign origin, fell from the third floor after having a nervous breakdown during the first earthquake.

The first earthquake occurred at 8:48 a.m., with the epicenter 135 kilometers southwest of Ciudad Hidalgo, on the border with Guatemala. The woman, who lived in a building in the Teófilo Acebo neighborhood, became desperate and fell into the void, suffering serious injuries. Civil Protection paramedics and Municipal Police attended the scene.

Second movement and evacuations

Thirty minutes later, while they were responding to the incident, a second earthquake of magnitude 5.8 was recorded in the same area. The authorities evacuated the building to avoid further risks.

The State Civil Protection System activated emergency protocols throughout Chiapas. In Tuxtla Gutiérrez and other cities, public and private buildings were evacuated. So far, no fatalities have been reported, only the injured woman.

The movements were noticeable in Guatemala, Belize and El Salvador, where monitoring was activated. The Tsunami Warning Center of the Ministry of the Navy issued an alert for the coasts of Chiapas and Oaxaca due to possible variations in sea level.