The number of fatalities due to the impact of the remnants of the cyclone "Rachel" in the municipality of Ensenada, in the Mexican state of Baja California, has increased to eight fatalities, among which are four minors. In addition, another four people are still missing after being swept away by the intense currents caused by the rise of the streams.
The commander of the Second Military Zone, General Daniel Gallegos, confirmed this balance in a press conference reported by the Mexican newspaper "Zócalo," emphasizing that at this moment all efforts are focused on search and rescue tasks.
The blow has been especially devastating for the Burgos family, originally from Hermosillo, the capital of the state of Sonora, to which five of the deceased belong. The governor of Baja California, Marina del Pilar Ávila, has expressed her condolences for these "irreparable losses" and has sent a message of support to the neighbors who have had to leave their homes.
To respond to the emergency, the authorities have mobilized a large operation made up of 3,560 members of the Army, the Navy, state police forces, and Civil Protection personnel. Alongside the human tragedy, the Secretariat of Welfare of Baja California has reported significant structural damage to at least 370 homes in Ensenada and another 258 in the town of San Quintín, as a result of the intense rains over the weekend.
This scenario of human and material destruction is exacerbated by the strong economic impact in one of the main agricultural areas of the country. Producers estimate initial losses of about 50 million dollars (44 million euros), due to the flooding of warehouses, the destruction of greenhouses, the total loss of cultivated areas, and the death of hundreds of cattle.