Beryl made landfall as a category-two hurricane on Friday in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula after passing through some Caribbean countries, leaving death and destruction in its wake.
Although the hurricane brought heavy rains and strong winds to Cancun and Tulum, no important damages were reported. Only fallen palm trees and a flood in the hotel zone.
But that is not the only phenomenon Beryl brought to the Mexican Caribbean. The storm left behind more than 69 tons of seaweed sargassum on Isla Mujeres beaches.
This is the second time that beachgoers have seen their beloved island covered in sargassum this year, considering that this place regularly remains seaweed-free.
Isla Mujeres boasts multiple beaches, each more stunning than the other, but the most affected one was Playa Norte, said Dayana Alejandra Pérez Medina, the Director of Isla Mujeres Zofemat.
“Thirty-nine tons were collected Saturday and another 30 tons Sunday, adding up to a total of 69 tons in two days,” she said.
More than 50 people worked non-stop to clean the beaches as soon as they could.
“Our warriors from Zofemat Isla Mujeres do not let their guard down to keep the beaches looking spectacular. Faced with the atypical sargassum washup left behind by Hurricane Beryl, the Zofemat team has been on the job since early in the morning and in two days has removed 69 tons of seaweed,” a government official posted on social media.
The storm hasn’t stopped yet. Yesterday morning, it tore through Louisiana and Texas, leaving at least seven people dead and knocking power out to more than 2 million Americans.
Most victims passed after trees hit their roofs. A security official died in a flood when attending an emergency.
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has warned that the North Atlantic is set to see at least seven major hurricanes in 2024. More than double that in a regular season.
Where is the Storm Heading?
The National Hurricane Center has downgraded Beryl to a tropical storm. It is currently moving 12 mph north.
Areas receiving heavy rains tonight, Tuesday, include Southeast Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Southern Missouri.