Residents of the east coast of Mexico are starting to rebuild their homes and clear debris from roads, with photos revealing the aftermath of yesterday's Hurricane Delta passage.
The category 2 hurricane, which is currently moving west-northwest towards the U.S. Gulf Coast, made landfall near Cancun yesterday, resulting in hurricane warnings between Tulum to Dzilam and Cozumel. Photos taken at the scene show damage to residential and commercial buildings and flood streets in caused by winds in Cozumel.
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Workers talk while they try to move away the debris of a fallen tree after Hurricane Delta caused damages in Cozumel on October 07, 2020 in Cozumel, Mexico. Hurricane Delta reached Mexican east coast, between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, forcing evacuations in touristic areas. Is the second strongest hurricane in the Atlantic this year, only after hurricane Laura, and is expected to hit the coast of Louisiana on Friday. Natalia Pescador/Getty Images
Workers talk while they try to move away the debris of a fallen tree after Hurricane Delta caused damages in Cozumel on October 07, 2020 in Cozumel, Mexico. Hurricane Delta reached Mexican east coast, between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, forcing evacuations in touristic areas. Is the second strongest hurricane in the Atlantic this year, only after hurricane Laura, and is expected to hit the coast of Louisiana on Friday. Natalia Pescador/Getty ImagesOfficials clear a palm tree on October 7, 2020 in Cancun, Mexico. Hurricane Hurricane Delta reached the Mexican east coast, between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, forcing evacuations in tourist areas. It is the second strongest hurricane in the Atlantic this year, only after hurricane Laura, and is expected to hit the coast of Louisiana on Friday. Medios y Media/Getty ImagesTwo people on a motor scooter pass by a closed business after the arrival of Hurricane Delta on October 07, 2020 in Cozumel, Mexico. Hurricane Delta reached Mexican east coast, between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, forcing evacuations in touristic areas. Is the second strongest hurricane in the Atlantic this year, only after hurricane Laura, and is expected to hit the coast of Louisiana on Friday. Natalia Pescador/Getty ImagesPeople walk on a flooded street after Hurricane Delta hit near Cozumel on October 07, 2020 in Cozumel, Mexico. Hurricane Delta reached Mexican east coast, between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, forcing evacuations in touristic areas. Is the second strongest hurricane in the Atlantic this year, only after hurricane Laura, and is expected to hit the coast of Louisiana on Friday. Natalia Pescador/Getty ImagesView of a destroyed main avenue after the passage of Hurricane Delta on October 7, 2020 in Cancun, Mexico. Hurricane Delta reached Mexican east coast, between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, forcing evacuations in touristic areas. Is the second strongest hurricane in the Atlantic this year, only after hurricane Laura, and is expected to hit the coast of Louisiana on Friday.Medios y Media/Getty ImagesA man starts rebuilding his house torn down by air after Hurricane Delta struck near Cancún on October 07, 2020 in Cancun, Mexico. Hurricane Delta reached Mexican east coast, between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, forcing evacuations in touristic areas. Is the second strongest hurricane in the Atlantic this year, only after hurricane Laura, and is expected to hit the coast of Louisiana on Friday. Erick Marfil/Getty ImagesMen travel to clean the manatee lagoon after Hurricane Delta struck near Cancún on October 07, 2020 in Cancun, Mexico. Hurricane Delta reached Mexican east coast, between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, forcing evacuations in touristic areas. Is the second strongest hurricane in the Atlantic this year, only after hurricane Laura, and is expected to hit the coast of Louisiana on Friday. Erick Marfil/Getty ImagesDebris remain on the floor at the entrance of the Temptation Resort of Cancun after Hurricane Delta struck near the city on October 07, 2020 in Cancun, Mexico. Hurricane Delta reached Mexican east coast, between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, forcing evacuations in touristic areas. Is the second strongest hurricane in the Atlantic this year, only after hurricane Laura, and is expected to hit the coast of Louisiana on Friday. Erick Marfil/Getty ImagesA commercial area remains closed at the hotel complex area of Cancun after Hurricane Delta struck near the city on October 07, 2020 in Cancun, Mexico. Hurricane Delta reached Mexican east coast, between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, forcing evacuations in touristic areas. Is the second strongest hurricane in the Atlantic this year, only after hurricane Laura, and is expected to hit the coast of Louisiana on Friday. Erick Marfil/Getty ImagesA light post remains crooked after the winds caused by Hurricane Delta damaged it on October 07, 2020 in Cozumel, Mexico. Hurricane Delta reached Mexican east coast, between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, forcing evacuations in touristic areas. Is the second strongest hurricane in the Atlantic this year, only after hurricane Laura, and is expected to hit the coast of Louisiana on Friday. Natalia Pescador/Getty ImagesAn information kiosk remains on the ground after been knocked down by the winds caused by Hurricane Delta on October 07, 2020 in Cancun, Mexico. Hurricane Delta reached Mexican east coast, between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, forcing evacuations in touristic areas. Is the second strongest hurricane in the Atlantic this year, only after hurricane Laura, and is expected to hit the coast of Louisiana on Friday. Erick Marfil/Getty ImagesCloudy weather and sandstorms are seen after Hurricane Delta hit the Mexican coast on October 7, 2020 in Cancun, Mexico. Hurricane Delta reached the Mexican east coast, between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, forcing evacuations in tourist areas. It is the second strongest hurricane in the Atlantic this year, only after hurricane Laura, and is expected to hit the coast of Louisiana on Friday. Medios y Media/Getty ImagesBattered and uprooted palm trees are seen in the main tourist area of Cancun on October 7, 2020 in Cancun, Mexico. Hurricane Delta reached the Mexican east coast, between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, forcing evacuations in tourist areas. It is the second strongest hurricane in the Atlantic this year, only after hurricane Laura, and is expected to hit the coast of Louisiana on Friday. Medios y Media/Getty ImagesThe Coco Bongo restaurant is seen damaged by Hurricane Deltaon October 7, 2020 in Cancun, Mexico. Hurricane Delta reached the Mexican east coast, between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, forcing evacuations in tourist areas. It is the second strongest hurricane in the Atlantic this year, only after hurricane Laura, and is expected to hit the coast of Louisiana on Friday. Medios y Media/Getty ImagesDebris caused by downed branches is seen in an access to Playa Defines on October 7, 2020 in Cancun, Mexico. Hurricane Delta reached the Mexican east coast, between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, forcing evacuations in tourist areas. It is the second strongest hurricane in the Atlantic this year, only after hurricane Laura, and is expected to hit the coast of Louisiana on Friday. Medios y Media/Getty ImagesTwo local men walk when the worst of Hurricane Delta had passed on October 7, 2020 in Cancun, Mexico. Hurricane Delta reached the Mexican east coast, between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, forcing evacuations in tourist areas. It is the second strongest hurricane in the Atlantic this year, only after hurricane Laura, and is expected to hit the coast of Louisiana on Friday. Medios y Media/Getty ImagesWindows broken by Hurricane Delta are seen on Kukulkan Boulevard on October 7, 2020 in Cancun, Mexico. Hurricane Delta reached the Mexican east coast, between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, forcing evacuations in tourist areas. It is the second strongest hurricane in the Atlantic this year, only after hurricane Laura, and is expected to hit the coast of Louisiana on Friday. Medios y Media/Getty ImagesWindows broken by Hurricane Delta are seen on Kukulkan Boulevard on October 7, 2020 in Cancun, Mexico. Hurricane Delta reached the Mexican east coast, between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, forcing evacuations in tourist areas. It is the second strongest hurricane in the Atlantic this year, only after hurricane Laura, and is expected to hit the coast of Louisiana on Friday. Medios y Media/Getty Images
Tens of thousands of residents and holidaymakers were evacuated yesterday as the hurricane made landfall. Puerto Morelos, which sits halfway between holiday destinations Cancún and Playa del Carmen, was battered by the storm at 6.30 a.m. ET.
The aftermath of the hurricane, captured by photographers, saw resorts shut down, with debris on floors and roads. Buildings also took damage, with sides blown away by the hurricane-force winds. Homes were wrecked, resulting in people getting to work to rebuild them.
Roads were flooded, resulting in people driving through in cars and scooters. Some even waded through to get to where they needed to be. Photos also show fallen trees and poles across roads, causing them to become blocked.
According to a National Hurricane Center's advisory issued around the time Delta hit Mexico, the maximum sustained winds neared 100 mph with higher gusts. It is expected to strengthen again as it approaches the U.S and is forecast to become a major hurricane.
A storm surge raised water levels in areas on the coast by as much as 9 feet, with large and destructive waves battering beaches. It was forecast the peak storm surge would result in normally dry areas near the coast to flood as rising water moved inland from the shoreline.
Additional heavy rainfall contributes to the rising water levels, with the National Hurricane Center predicting up to 6 inches of rain, with isolated maximum totals of 10 inches across the northern Yucatan Peninsula.
In the northwestern Caribbean Sea, swells will affect portions of the northern and western Gulf coast today, which are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
Tens of thousands of residents and holidaymakers were evacuated and sought refuge in emergency shelters Wednesday as Hurricane Delta made landfall on the coast of north-eastern Mexico in the early hours of the morning, lashing popular tourist resorts.
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The category 2 storm hit Puerto Morelos—approximately halfway between the resort towns of Cancún and Playa del Carmen—at around 6.30am US east coast time, with estimated maximum winds of 105 mph, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.
It was then forecast to bring a "life-threatening storm surge and strong winds to north-eastern portions of the Yucatan peninsula."
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