Cyclone Yaku: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|An unusual lowLow-pressure system in the far Southeastern Pacific}}

| season = [[2022–23 South Pacific cyclone season]] {{nobold|(unofficially)}}

'''Cyclone Yaku''' was an unusual [[low-pressure system]] in the far Southeastern Pacific that impacted Ecuador and northern Peru in early March 2023. It has been described by the Peruvian {{ill|[[National Meteorological and Hydrological Service|es|Servicio Nacionalof deMeteorology Meteorología eand HidrologíaHydrology delof Perú}}Peru]] (SENAMHI) as an "unorganized [[tropical cyclone]]" not seen since 1983 or 1998.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=12 March 2023 |title=Ciclón Yaku: ¿Qué es, por qué se formó y hasta cuándo será su permanencia por la costa peruana? {{!}} PERU |url=https://elcomercio.pe/peru/lluvias-en-el-norte-que-significa-el-ciclon-yaku-y-como-puede-afectarnos-senamhi-fenomeno-el-nino-piura-tumbes-lambayeque-enfen-ciclon-yaku-noticia/ |access-date=12 March 2023 |website=El Comercio |language=es |archive-date=14 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314021454/https://elcomercio.pe/peru/lluvias-en-el-norte-que-significa-el-ciclon-yaku-y-como-puede-afectarnos-senamhi-fenomeno-el-nino-piura-tumbes-lambayeque-enfen-ciclon-yaku-noticia/ |url-status=live |last1= Medrano Marin|first1= Hernán}}</ref> In Peru, the system killed at least eight,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rochabrun |first1=Marcelo |title=Peru's Desert Coast Braces for More Deadly Rains From Cyclone |newspaper=Bloomberg |date=14 March 2023 |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-14/peru-s-desert-coast-braces-for-more-deadly-rains-from-cyclone?leadSource=uverify%20wall |publisher=Bloomberg News |access-date=20 March 2023}}</ref> affected 49,000 people and destroyed thousands of homes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gestion.pe/peru/emergencia-en-el-norte-del-peru-en-vivo-ciclon-yaku-huaicos-desbordes-e-inundaciones-por-lluvias-intensas-hoy-10-de-marzo-fenomeno-el-nino-piura-lambayeque-tumbes-cajamarca-viviendas-afectadas-fallecidos-desaparecidos-bloqueo-de-carreteras-estado-de-emergencia-deslizamientos-indeci-coen-arequipa-cusco-ayacucho-lima-yauyos-noticia/|title=Emergencia en el norte: huaicos, inundaciones y desbordes hoy 10 de marzo|website=Gestión|date=11 March 2023 |publication-date=10 March 2023|language=es|access-date=12 March 2023|archive-date=12 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312004620/https://gestion.pe/peru/emergencia-en-el-norte-del-peru-en-vivo-ciclon-yaku-huaicos-desbordes-e-inundaciones-por-lluvias-intensas-hoy-10-de-marzo-fenomeno-el-nino-piura-lambayeque-tumbes-cajamarca-viviendas-afectadas-fallecidos-desaparecidos-bloqueo-de-carreteras-estado-de-emergencia-deslizamientos-indeci-coen-arequipa-cusco-ayacucho-lima-yauyos-noticia/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/en-espanol/noticias/story/2023-03-08/ecuador-crecidas-dejan-tres-muertos-y-miles-de-damnificados|title=Ecuador: crecidas dejan tres muertos y miles de damnificados|website=The San Diego Union-Tribune|date=8 March 2023 |publication-date=8 March 2023|language=es|access-date=2023-03-12|archive-date=2023-03-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311075820/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/en-espanol/noticias/story/2023-03-08/ecuador-crecidas-dejan-tres-muertos-y-miles-de-damnificados|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=12 March 2023 |title=Ciclón Yaku Nueve muertos por lluvias solo esta semana: mayores daños se reportan en Trujillo, Piura, Tumbes y Lambayeque {{!}} PERU |url=https://elcomercio.pe/peru/ciclon-yaku-nueve-muertos-por-lluvias-solo-esta-semana-mayores-danos-se-reportan-en-trujillo-piura-tumbes-y-lambayeque-noticia/ |access-date=12 March 2023 |website=El Comercio |language=es |archive-date=12 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312134928/https://elcomercio.pe/peru/ciclon-yaku-nueve-muertos-por-lluvias-solo-esta-semana-mayores-danos-se-reportan-en-trujillo-piura-tumbes-y-lambayeque-noticia/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=15 March 2023 |title=Ciclón Yaku EN VIVO: Senamhi advierte presencia de truenos en Chiclayo |url=https://larepublica.pe/sociedad/2023/03/13/ciclon-yaku-en-vivo-lluvias-en-peru-desborde-de-rios-fallecidos-huaicos-reportes-del-senamhi-y-ultima-hora-sobre-las-precipitaciones-en-lima-piura-tumbes-y-otras-regiones-del-norte-del-pais-indeci-667628 |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=[[La República (Peru)|La Republica]] |language=es |archive-date=2023-03-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315004205/https://larepublica.pe/sociedad/2023/03/13/ciclon-yaku-en-vivo-lluvias-en-peru-desborde-de-rios-fallecidos-huaicos-reportes-del-senamhi-y-ultima-hora-sobre-las-precipitaciones-en-lima-piura-tumbes-y-otras-regiones-del-norte-del-pais-indeci-667628 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Depresión_Tropical_Yaku.png|thumb|left|Map plotting Yaku's track]]On 7 March, SENAMHI reported an "unorganized tropical cyclone."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ciclón Yaku se presenta frente al mar peruano |url=https://www.gob.pe/institucion/senamhi/noticias/721545-ciclon-yaku-se-presenta-frente-al-mar-peruano |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=www.gob.pe |language=es-pe |archive-date=2023-03-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312040209/https://www.gob.pe/institucion/senamhi/noticias/721545-ciclon-yaku-se-presenta-frente-al-mar-peruano |url-status=live }}</ref> SENAMHI researchers identified the formation of the cyclone in late February. Also they stated that the unusual phenomenon would remain in the Peruvian sea but would not affect any cities on the Peruvian and Ecuadorian coasts. They also reported that moderate to heavy rainfall would develop on Peru's northern coast and highlands from 9 to 11 March<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sourtech |title=Yaku: ¿En qué regiones del Perú se está presentando este inusual ciclón? - Exitosa Noticias |url=https://www.exitosanoticias.pe/actualidad/yaku-en-regiones-peru-esta-presentando-inusual-ciclon-n94396 |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=www.exitosanoticias.pe |language=es-PE |archive-date=2023-03-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312040204/https://www.exitosanoticias.pe/actualidad/yaku-en-regiones-peru-esta-presentando-inusual-ciclon-n94396 |url-status=live }}</ref> and that the cyclone would not become a hurricane.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ciclón Yaku no se convertirá en huracán: Expertos lo descartan, pero se mantienen alerta |url=https://www.infobae.com/peru/2023/03/10/ciclon-yaku-se-convertira-en-un-huracan-esto-es-lo-que-dicen-los-expertos/ |access-date=12 March 2023 |website=infobae |date=10 March 2023 |language=es-ES |archive-date=11 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311221751/https://www.infobae.com/peru/2023/03/10/ciclon-yaku-se-convertira-en-un-huracan-esto-es-lo-que-dicen-los-expertos/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The system was named "Cyclone Yaku," with the word "Yaku" coming from the [[Quechuan languages|Quechua]] translation of "water."<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Vega |first=Renzo Gómez |date=2023-03-11 |title=Siete fallecidos y miles de damnificados por Yaku, el ciclón que azota la costa y la sierra peruana |url=https://elpais.com/internacional/2023-03-11/siete-fallecidos-y-miles-de-damnificados-por-yaku-el-ciclon-que-azota-la-costa-y-la-sierra-peruana.html |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=[[El País]] |language=es |archive-date=2023-03-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314192353/https://elpais.com/internacional/2023-03-11/siete-fallecidos-y-miles-de-damnificados-por-yaku-el-ciclon-que-azota-la-costa-y-la-sierra-peruana.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Yaku 2023-03-17 1430Z.jpg|left|thumb|Cyclone Yaku well to the west of South America on 17 March]][[File:MINISTRO DE DEFENSA REALIZA VISITA DE INSPECCIÓN A ZONAS AFECTADAS POR LLUVIAS INTENSAS EN TUMBES (52738280667).jpg|thumb|A flooded street in [[Tumbes, Peru]]]]

Settlements along the desert coast of Peru often do not have drainage systems, and even small amounts of precipitation prove problematic for affected areas.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-03-14 |title=Peru's Desert Coast Braces for More Deadly Rains From Cyclone |language=en |work=[[Bloomberg.com]] |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-14/peru-s-desert-coast-braces-for-more-deadly-rains-from-cyclone |access-date=2023-03-15 |archive-date=2023-03-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315010632/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-14/peru-s-desert-coast-braces-for-more-deadly-rains-from-cyclone |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Lima]], Peru's capital city, is one of the most arid cities in the world, only receiving an average of 10 millimeters of precipitation annually.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Ciclón Yaku en tiempo real: así va el recorrido de este fenómeno frente a la costa peruana |url=https://www.infobae.com/peru/2023/03/13/ciclon-yaku-recorrido-en-tiempo-real-en-vivo-costa-peruana-senamhi/ |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=[[infobae]] |date=13 March 2023 |language=es-ES |archive-date=2023-03-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315224412/https://www.infobae.com/peru/2023/03/13/ciclon-yaku-recorrido-en-tiempo-real-en-vivo-costa-peruana-senamhi/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The cyclone happened during the [[Peruvian protests (2022–present)|widespread protests]] that had been occurring since the [[2022 Peruvian political crisis]].<ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=2023-03-13 |title='I lost everything': Cyclone Yaku unleashes destruction in Peru |language=en |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/i-lost-everything-cyclone-yaku-unleashes-destruction-peru-2023-03-13/ |access-date=2023-03-15 |archive-date=2023-03-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315033754/https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/i-lost-everything-cyclone-yaku-unleashes-destruction-peru-2023-03-13/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Cyclone Yaku brought extreme rainfall conditions to the [[Regions of Peru|departments]] of [[Department of Tumbes|Tumbes]], [[Department of Piura|Piura]], and [[Department of Lambayeque|Lambayeque]]. On 8 March, rainfall was reported in the departments of Tumbes, Piura, Lambayeque, [[Department of La Libertad|La Libertad]], [[Department of Ancash|Ancash]], and [[Department of Lima|Lima]]. On 10 March, the [[La Leche River]] overflowsoverflowed in the [[Lambayeque Province]], affecting the district of [[Illimo District|Illimo]], leaving 3,000 homeless and leaving over 1,000 homes uninhabitable.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":5" /> In the department of La Libertad, there was flooding in the provinces of [[Chepén]] and [[Pacasmayo]] after torrential rains.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=10 March 2023 |title=Lluvias en Perú {{!}} Ciclón Yaku {{!}} Lambayeque y La Libertad superaron récord histórico de lluvias desde El Niño de 1998 y El Niño costero del 2017 {{!}} Senamhi {{!}} PERU |url=https://gestion.pe/peru/lluvias-en-peru-ciclon-yaku-lambayeque-y-la-libertad-superaron-record-historico-de-lluvias-desde-el-nino-de-1998-y-el-nino-costero-del-2017-senamhi-noticia/ |access-date=12 March 2023 |website=Gestión |language=es |archive-date=11 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311145713/https://gestion.pe/peru/lluvias-en-peru-ciclon-yaku-lambayeque-y-la-libertad-superaron-record-historico-de-lluvias-desde-el-nino-de-1998-y-el-nino-costero-del-2017-senamhi-noticia/ |url-status=live }}</ref> SENAMHI reports indicated that the departments of Lambayeque and La Libertad exceeded the historical record of rainfall accumulation in 24 hours, reporting values not recorded since the [[1997–98 El Niño event|1997–98]] and 2017 El Niño events.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lambayeque en alerta: lluvias torrenciales, desbordes de ríos e inundaciones por el ciclón Yacu |url=https://www.infobae.com/peru/2023/03/10/lambayeque-en-alerta-lluvias-torrenciales-desbordes-de-rios-e-inundaciones-por-el-ciclon-yacu/ |access-date=12 March 2023 |website=infobae |date=10 March 2023 |language=es-ES |archive-date=12 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312003047/https://www.infobae.com/peru/2023/03/10/lambayeque-en-alerta-lluvias-torrenciales-desbordes-de-rios-e-inundaciones-por-el-ciclon-yacu/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

By 14 March, dozens of [[Huayco|huaicos]] were reported throughout the nation as a result of the rainfall.<ref name=":2" /> HuiacosHuaicos were reported in the [[Lima Province]], with mudslides reported in [[Ancón District|Ancón]], [[Carabayllo District|Carabayllo]], [[Chaclacayo]], [[Cieneguilla]], [[Comas District, Lima|Comas]] and [[Punta Hermosa]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ciclón Yaku: Impactantes videos y fotos de los estragos producidos este martes por las lluvias en Lima |url=https://www.infobae.com/peru/2023/03/15/ciclon-yaku-impactantes-videos-y-fotos-de-los-estragos-producidos-este-martes-por-las-lluvias-en-lima/ |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=[[Infobae]] |date=15 March 2023 |language=es-ES |archive-date=2023-03-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318051523/https://www.infobae.com/peru/2023/03/15/ciclon-yaku-impactantes-videos-y-fotos-de-los-estragos-producidos-este-martes-por-las-lluvias-en-lima/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In Punta Hermosa, widespread flooding was reported.<ref name=":2" /> The [[Piura River]] surpassed its [[Crest (hydrology)|crest]] in the urban area of [[Piura]], resulting in flooding.<ref name=":2" /> The town of [[Quiruvilca District|Quiruvilca]] was completely destroyed by landslides.<ref name=":2" /> Residents of Illimo, who faced flooding since 10 March, reported that despite much of the city being flooded, no response was provided and that they had not received drinking water for nearly five days.<ref name=":2" /> PerúSAT-1 collected images of Cyclone Yaku's impact in an effort to respond to the system's effect.<ref name=":2" /> In the early morning hours of 15 March, some residents of [[Lurigancho-Chosica]] were evacuated due to the risk of huaicos.<ref name=":2" />

At least 60% of homes in [[Catacaos]] were abandoned due to the risks of the Piura River overflowing.<ref name=":2" /> CEPRENED estimated that 592 districts along Peru arewere at risk of landslides or mudslides due to heavy rains. Also, the {{ill|[[National Institute of Civil Defense|es|Instituto Nacional de Defensa Civil}}Defence]] (INDECI) reported more than 45,000 people affected and 1,312 houses collapsed, with [[Department of La Libertad|La Libertad]] being the most affected department.<ref name=":0" /> Regarding infrastructure and building losses, over 3,000 homes were left uninhabitable. The destruction included 58 schools, four medical facilities, over {{convert|60|km|mi}} of road, over {{convert|94|km|mi}} of irrigation canals and at least 118 bridges.<ref name=":2" /> President [[Dina Boluarte]] flew over the flooded areas after the heavy rains that affected in [[Lambayeque, Peru|Lambayeque]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Presidenta Boluarte sobrevuela zonas afectadas por lluvias en región Lambayeque |url=https://www.gob.pe/institucion/presidencia/noticias/724363-presidenta-boluarte-sobrevuela-zonas-afectadas-por-lluvias-en-region-lambayeque |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=www.gob.pe |language=es-pe |archive-date=2023-03-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315041058/https://www.gob.pe/institucion/presidencia/noticias/724363-presidenta-boluarte-sobrevuela-zonas-afectadas-por-lluvias-en-region-lambayeque |url-status=live }}</ref> The government of Dina Boluarte received criticism from international media and television celebrities,<ref>{{Cite web |last=OJO |first=NOTICIAS |date=2023-03-16 |title=Critican a Mónica Sánchez por culpar al Gobierno huaycos {{!}} OJO-SHOW |url=https://ojo.pe/ojo-show/critican-a-monica-sanchez-por-culpar-al-gobierno-huaycos-web-ojo-farandula-noticia/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Ojo |language=es |archive-date=2023-03-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316213220/https://ojo.pe/ojo-show/critican-a-monica-sanchez-por-culpar-al-gobierno-huaycos-web-ojo-farandula-noticia/ |url-status=live }}</ref> who claimed that its response to the natural disasters that hit the country was either slow or nonexistent.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Perú bajo el agua. Ciclón Yaku: 60 muertos y 15.000 damnificados sin respuesta del gobierno golpista de Boluarte |url=http://www.laizquierdadiario.com/Ciclon-Yaku-60-muertos-y-15-000-damnificados-sin-respuesta-del-gobierno-golpista-de-Boluarte |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=La Izquierda Diario - Red internacional |language=es |archive-date=2023-03-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315205344/https://www.laizquierdadiario.com/Ciclon-Yaku-60-muertos-y-15-000-damnificados-sin-respuesta-del-gobierno-golpista-de-Boluarte |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=TROME.COM |first=NOTICIAS |date=2023-03-15 |title=Juliana Oxenford critica a Gobierno de Dina Boluarte por no ayudar a damnificados por lluvias y huaicos en Perú {{!}} indignante {{!}} farándula TRCM {{!}} ESPECTACULOS |url=https://trome.com/espectaculos/juliana-oxenford-critica-a-gobierno-de-dina-boluarte-por-no-ayudar-a-damnificados-por-lluvias-y-huaicos-en-peru-indignante-farandula-trcm-noticia/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Trome.com |language=es |archive-date=2023-03-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318101518/https://trome.com/espectaculos/juliana-oxenford-critica-a-gobierno-de-dina-boluarte-por-no-ayudar-a-damnificados-por-lluvias-y-huaicos-en-peru-indignante-farandula-trcm-noticia/ |url-status=live }}</ref>