The storm of storms, strong winds and intense rains that affected the national territory in the early hours of Wednesday left the balance to 286 evacuated between two departmentsArtigas and Paysandú, but it did not happen to majors in the rest of the country. beyond several tree falls and power outagessome were reported roof blasting isolated and no injuries were reported.
The most affected department was Artigas, which until 9 in the morning had 130 evacuees and 148 self-evacuees due to floods caused by the rise of the Cuareim River.reported the director of the National Emergency System (Sinae), Sergio Rico, to The Observer.
To that department is added Paysandú, which has eight people evacuatedin this case by roof blow-offs caused by strong winds that occurred in the early hours of this Wednesday.
Outside of these situations, so far There have been several falls of trees and power cables in various parts of UruguayRico indicated.
Until 8:30 in the morning the National Fire Department reported 19 interventions throughout the country, 7 in the interior, all due to falling trees, and 12 in Montevideo, of which 10 were due to falling trees, one due to a roof rising and another due to “displaced elements”. Pablo Benitez, Director of Fire Communications, clarified to The Observer what there are ongoing interventions in Maldonado, and the number is expected to increase in the morning.
The situation has generated cuts in the electricity supply throughout the territory. According to the UTE portal, six departments have so far more than 10% of their service without power: Paysandú is the most affected department, with 27% of its population without electricity in their homes; Flores reached 20%, and Treinta y Tres 19%. of homes without electricity. Rio Negro is around 15% of your service without electricity, while Cerro Largo and Durazno slightly exceed 10%.
Soriano was another department with more than 10% of its energy service affected, but at 9:30 reached 7% of households without electricity in the department. The coordinator of the Coordinating Center for Departmental Emergencies (Cecoed) of Soriano, Zoilo Cheveste, detailed to The Observer what there are three localities that continue without power (Cañada Nieto, Rodó and Risso).
This is due, according to Cheveste, to the winds that exceeded 80 kilometers per hour and led to tree falls and “some occasional blasting”which is also explained by a weakening of structures product of previous storm that suffered its capital, Mercedeslate March.
Both Rico and Benítez agreed that the situation will definitely improve in the midday hours of this Wednesday. Even the director of Sinae said that in Artigas the sun is already “radiant”.
other departments
The storm was projected for the entire national territory, which until 8:30 a.m. was almost entirely on orange alert due to strong storms, but some departments came out unscathed. It is the case of Floridain which “absolutely nothing” happenedsaid the coordinator of the departmental Cecoed, Cono Arrúa, to The Observer.
In Rocha the situation did not go beyond some fallen trees, explained the also coordinator of Cecoed Daniel Silveira. However, from the Center they remain “on alert” until noon.
In San José there were no “major problems” beyond some fallen high-voltage columns, reported the coordinator of Cecoed Yerwin Silveira. Energy was the most affected point in the department, but far from the levels of other areasSilva added.
