Three Mexican ports on Gulf closed due to heavy winds
Three Mexican ports on the Gulf of Mexico - two oil-exporting ports and one that exports products - were closed to navigation Sunday due to heavy north winds, local authorities announced. The ports of Tuxpan, Veracruz and Coatzacoalcos, all located in the eastern state of Veracruz, were closed as the cold front swept down over Mexico bringing high winds, Civil Protection Secretary Ranulfo Marquez Hernandez said.
Tuxpan and Coatzacoalcos have important petrochemical terminals and oil refineries, while Veracruz is the country's main port through which other products are exported.
Marquez said that in the northern and central Gulf of Mexico heavy north and northwesterly winds in excess of 40 kilometers (25 miles) per hour, with gusts up to 60 kph (37 mph) had been noted, adding that thunderstorms were associated with the weather system.
In the southern part of the affected zone, wind gusts reached between 90 and 100 kph (56 and 62 mph), and so authorities closed the ports to navigation as a precaution.
Marquez said that in the central mountain region of the country temperatures as low as -3 C (27 F) had been registered.
Local authorities activated their civil protection plans and sent blankets and food to the affected residents of the mountainous area hit by the cold wave.
Tuxpan and Coatzacoalcos have important petrochemical terminals and oil refineries, while Veracruz is the country's main port through which other products are exported.
Marquez said that in the northern and central Gulf of Mexico heavy north and northwesterly winds in excess of 40 kilometers (25 miles) per hour, with gusts up to 60 kph (37 mph) had been noted, adding that thunderstorms were associated with the weather system.
In the southern part of the affected zone, wind gusts reached between 90 and 100 kph (56 and 62 mph), and so authorities closed the ports to navigation as a precaution.
Marquez said that in the central mountain region of the country temperatures as low as -3 C (27 F) had been registered.
Local authorities activated their civil protection plans and sent blankets and food to the affected residents of the mountainous area hit by the cold wave.