The passage of Hurricane Melissa through the Caribbean Sea is causing serious damage to the northern coast of Colombia, triggering a strong storm surge phenomenon with waves that reach up to 3.5 meters. Given the risk, authorities raised red flags, closed beaches and activated emergency plans in several departments.

Rising seas are an oceanic phenomenon characterized by long, powerful waves that do not break at sea, but when they reach the coast, causing flooding, erosion and damage to infrastructure.

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Hurricane Melissa, with winds of up to 278 km/h, has generated adverse meteomarine conditions in Atlántico, Magdalena, Bolívar, Sucre, Córdoba and La Guajira.

Alert in the Caribbean and persistence forecast

The General Maritime Directorate (Dimar), through the CIOH, recorded waves with heights of 2.0 to 2.5 meters in Atlántico, Bolívar and Magdalena. These conditions are expected to persist over the next 48 hours, gradually easing as Melissa continues its northward movement.

• Cartagena: The rough sea has caused flooding in vulnerable sectors such as Bocagrande, where cleaning work is underway.
• Santa Marta: Waves were reported that forced the evacuation of bathers and the suspension of nautical activities.
• La Guajira: The phenomenon has been combined with intense rains, generating floods and overflows.

IDEAM and DIMAR maintain the yellow alert in Atlántico, Magdalena and Bolívar, and evaluate restrictions on the departure of tourist and fishing vessels.

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