Second storm to hit Mexico’s gulf in two weeks

Tropical Storm Helene formed close to shore and began to head north along Mexico’s Gulf coast early this morning.

Thousands of persons are still recovering from heavy rains and floods caused by Hurricane Ernesto which struck the same area the week before.

According to information released by the US National Hurricane Centre, Helene was forecasted to strengthen before its expected landfall on Saturday.

Despite having developed on Friday then weakened to less than a tropical storm by the evening, Helene had maximum sustained winds of 64.37 km/hr and was moving northwest toward the Gulf of Mexico at 11 km/hr.

It centred almost 105 km/hr east of Tuxpan.

Veracruz is a coastal state where towns and villages in their hundreds sit along streams and rivers which are feared to dangerously swell in heavy rain.

Flood damages caused by Ernesto made 10,000 people homeless after many were evacuated as the storm approached last week.