Unusually high, tsunami-like waves are currently causing massive damage to the coasts of Peru and Ecuador. About 100 boats have been destroyed by the floods and at least two people have been killed so far. The waves are expected to last until New Year’s Day.
Footage from Piura (video above), a city in the north of the Andean state of Peru, shows waves up to four meters high, carrying fishing boats like toys and causing them to capsize.
Authorities have closed 91 ports on the Peruvian coast, the head of the navy’s oceanographic department, Enrique Varea, told news channel Canal N TV. So far, about 100 boats have been destroyed or sunk, and 180 fishermen are still trapped in their vessels at sea.
Fischer: “Never seen such strong waves”
“We need the help of the authorities. We have lost about 100 boats here,” one fisherman told TV Peru. “I am 70 years old and have never seen such unusual and strong waves,” the man explained. On Saturday afternoon, 31 fishermen stranded in the waves were rescued by the navy.
According to the Peruvian Navy, the waves are generated by wind on the sea surface. Many beaches in the center and north of the country were closed to avoid endangering lives, authorities said. They blame climate change for the unusually strong waves.
“Climate change is the reason for abnormal waves”
The weather phenomenon is expected to last until New Year’s Day. “Climate change is the reason for these types of abnormal waves,” Larry Linch, head of the civil protection unit in Peru’s Callao region, told AFP.
Large waves were also seen on the central Chilean coast in Viña del Mar, prompting warnings from the country’s authorities. According to Peru’s National Disaster Management Center, the weather phenomenon started around Christmas and will last at least until New Year’s Day.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
