Damage reports grow in mid-Baja in wake of tropical storm Jimena

Baja Bush Pilots has been monitoring the damage caused by hurricane/tropical storm Jimena in northern Baja  California Sur. The situation, as reported earlier Thursday on Outposts, is bleak for many residents and disheartening for Baja aficionados who have grown fond of the region and its people.

Here's the midday update from the Bush Pilots, based not only on flyovers but reports from residents --before phone service went out, and in one instance a ham radio -- and members close to the situation:

-- Matancitas (Lopez Mateos): Almost 90% of structures are down or severely damaged. No water, power or telephone service.

-- Ciudad Constitucion: Most roofs are gone; severe damage to 70% of the buildings. No water, power or telephone service.

-- Loreto: No power or telephone service. Lines are down, trees are down. Buildings are damaged. The airport is closed.

-- Mulege: No water, power or telephone service. Water crested three feet above the bridge. Water was 2 feet deep in the fire station, which would mean that almost the entire town was flooded.  There have been reports of loss of life. (Outposts has learned at least one man has died, according to authorities.)

-- Punta Chivato: One person indicates that the wind was over 100 mph before the indicator broke.  Damage to almost everything.  We should hear about the condition of the strip sometime today.

-- Santa Rosalia: Wall of water came down the canyon and through the town, washed cars, etc., into the ocean.

Based on these reports, mid-Baja would seem to be disaster central. The Red Cross will have its hands full over the next several days. And a team from the U.S. Aid Disaster Assistance humanitarian group reportedly is in the area. Hopefully, the worst has passed.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Residents look at lamp posts knocked down by Hurricane Jimena in Puerto San Carlos, Baja California Sur. Credit: Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty Images

Comments

[Manhattan Mold Removal]

Cool pic! I remember this storm. My brother's roof was torn off on one half of his house. It rained in the attic and black mold grew. Nasty problems from that storm.

[Chris]

Why is it that as long as Cabo is not threatened or damaged there is no news of a Baja hurricane in the US? We have lived here for five years through several hurricanes and mostly our friends and family depend on emails from us for information regarding threat to life and property here. Wake up, American news media..Cabo is not the only city in Baja. Thank you Mr. Thomas for your report. I wanted to let our friends up north know about the devastation this storm had caused, but most other news sites that I Googled said Jimena caused little or no damage.

[Mark Schneider]

Pete - Sadly, your post is the most thorough report on the tremendous damage inflicted on Mexico by Jimena. Thousands are without clear water, electricity. A bunch of us sportsmen want to help with the relief effort. Please contact me:

valiantskipper(at]gmail [dot] com

Mark Schneider

[Robert]

Jimema crossed the Sea of Cortez (un-forecast) and dumped 25" of rain on Guaymas and San Carlos Sonora. This has caused extensive flooding throughout this area . A flash flood is reported to have swept through Marina Seca (dry storage for over 1000 yachts) and deposited some of these boats out on the main highway into town..At the Tonaka Trailer Park, at a narrow spot in the main road, the seawall collapsed and the road fell into the sea, blocking access to most of San Carlos..The area north, all the way up to Tastiota, is completely cut off because of wash-outs.