In what could be considered victims of Hurricane Milton, four small boats with 15 fishermen are missing.
Until the morning of Tuesday, October 8, no reports had been made, and their friends and family feared for the safety and integrity of the crew members.
Maritime sources and Evita agency run by Anilú Cetina Canto reported that the fiberglass fishing boat “Neldy”, about 40 feet long, was reported missing.
The boats “Halcón I”, “Peyucsa 12” and “Peyucsa 13”, in which a total of 15 fishermen were on board, were also reported lost on the high seas.
Relatives of the fishermen, desperate not to have news of their loved ones and fearing the worst, went to the fishing docks and stood at the entrance to the sheltered port waiting for news.
The version spread through social networks that the ship “Neldy” had sunk near the coast of Progreso, but it was false. It was denied by its owner, Donato Gonzalo Baeza Pool, who is monitoring the arrival of that boat.
The “Neldy”, explains Donato Baeza, is commanded by the skipper-fisherman Guillermo Vera. Four fishermen are traveling with him, they set sail to capture scale species.
On Tuesday, October 8, they marked four days since they set sail from Yucalpetén. The fishermen had to return like the other boats when the hurricane warning was given.
The owner of the boat said that radio communication with the boat was lost, apparently due to a mechanical failure and he was left without power for the radio communication equipment to work and even the satellite chip could not be located.
Because there is no communication with the fishermen and it is unknown where on the coast it is located, the version spread that the “Neldy” sank.
However, the ship could be stranded or adrift between Telchac and Dzilam, so the ship “Tepakan 3” was sent for search and rescue.
A social media user, Alejandra Corazón, assured that several Yucatecan fishermen are safe, and have anchored in Isla Mujeres.
“For the people of Progreso who are worried about their relatives and friends, these are the boats that are anchored here in Isla Mujeres,” shared the social media user.
Yucatecan authorities have not confirmed the information or identity of the fishermen stranded on Isla Mujeres.
TYT Newsroom