Mexico increases troop deployment in response to Hurricane Beryl

The Mexican government has increased the deployment of soldiers from the Armed Forces and other agencies in response to Hurricane Beryl, which is expected to make landfall as a Category 1 hurricane in the state of Quintana Roo between Thursday and Friday.

“There are many public servants from all departments, of course, elements of the Navy, Defense and National Guard were mobilized, we are working in coordination with Governor Mara Lezama,” said President Andrés Manuel López Obrador in his daily press conference.

Mexico increases troop deployment in response to Hurricane Beryl

The operation now includes 4,150 soldiers and 583 vehicles from the Army, 4,451 officers and 713 vehicles from the National Guard, and 1,128 elements, 87 vehicles, 14 boats, three helicopters and a communications unit from the Navy, explained Laura Velázquez, national coordinator of Civil Protection.

There are also 1,388 agents from the Public Security Secretariat of the State of Quintana Roo, 66 from the National Water Commission (Conagua) and 2,189 officials from the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), which also has 584 vehicles, 257 cranes, 66 emergency plants and five helicopters.

“There is a very relevant task force working since yesterday, here in Tulum, in the municipality of Carrillo Puerto and throughout the state,” said Velázquez.

Huracán Beryl

Hurricane Beryl remained 80 kilometers southwest of the Cayman Islands, 620 kilometers east-southeast of Tulum and 600 kilometers east of Punta Herrero, both municipalities in Quintana Roo, according to the latest report from the National Meteorological Service (SMN).

“It is important to inform you that it is forecast to impact the national territory as a Category 1 hurricane,” he said.

López Obrador recalled that Beryl, the most intense hurricane for this early stage of the Atlantic season, would hit the country twice, since after leaving the Yucatan Peninsula, it would pass through the Gulf of Mexico and then hit Tamaulipas, a state bordering the United States.

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