Extreme event triggers massive waves in Chile, Ecuador, and Peru, closing nearly 100 ports due to rough condition
\nLima: Three deaths have been blamed on large waves up to 13 feet (four meters) pummeling Ecuador, Chile and Peru, where nearly 100 ports have been closed because of the rough conditions.
\nEcuador\u2019s secretary for risk management, Jorge Carillo, told a media conference that an \u201cextreme event\u201d was occurring and warned that similar phenomena could be expected in the future.
\nHe added that \u201cunfortunately, we have two deaths, both recorded\u201d in Ecuador\u2019s southwestern Manta region.
\nAnother was recorded in Chile, the country\u2019s navy said, after a 30-year-old man was found dead at a beach.
\nIn Peru, almost all ports were closed because of the constant battering of waves, the head of the naval Oceanographic Department, Enrique Varea, told the broadcaster Canal N.
\nHe forecast that the big waves \u201cwill continue in coming days,\u201d but expected them to calm somewhat from Monday, and to return more to normal in the first days of January. Images shown on local media showed jetties and public squares submerged in some parts of Peru, sending residents fleeing to higher ground.
\nThe waves, according to the Peruvian navy, are being generated off the US coast by winds along the ocean\u2019s surface.
\nMany beaches along the central and northern stretches of the country were closed to prevent risk to human life, authorities said.
\nMany fishing boats were damaged, while those that were spared were still unable to work in the dangerous conditions.
\n\u201cWe need help from authorities. Here, we\u2019ve lost some 100 boats,\u201d one fisherman told TV Peru. \u201cI\u2019m 70 years old and I\u2019ve never seen such unusual and strong waves,\u201d he said. Thirty-one fishermen stranded in the swell were rescued Saturday afternoon by the navy, while one told local radio that around 180 more remained at sea.
\nThe city of Callao, which sits adjacent to the capital Lima and is home to Peru\u2019s largest port, has closed several beaches and barred tourist from venturing out.
\n\u201cThe most affected have been the fishermen,\u201d Roberto Carrillo Zavala, mayor of La Cruz district, in the country\u2019s north, told AFP after surveying damage via helicopter with Peru\u2019s Minister of Defense Walter Astudillo Chavez.
\n\u201cWe hope nothing more happens, as this would significantly impact the economy.\u201d
\nThe phenomenon began on Christmas and will last until January 1, according to Peru\u2019s National Emergency Operations Center.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Extreme event triggers massive waves in Chile, Ecuador, and Peru, closing nearly 100 ports due to rough condition Lima: Three deaths have been blamed on large waves up to 13 feet (four meters) pummeling Ecuador, Chile and Peru, where nearly 100 ports have been closed because of the rough conditions. Ecuador\u2019s secretary for risk management, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":452616,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-452592","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n