A swell and high tides this week in the Pacific Ocean destroyed a total of six homes in the port city of Corinto, Chinandega (about 150 kilometers northwest of Managua) on Tuesday 25th of May 2021. In addition, about 50 other homes were flooded, while many more families are nervously watching the high tides.
The damage near Corinto, Nicaragua’s busiest port was between La Invi Sports Field (north) to the Emilio Chavarría School (south).
Before it reached the houses, the waves breached a large rock dike that was built to protect parts of the City of Corinto coastline from this type of phenomenon. Damage to the dike was measured at over 300 meters. A further 400 families live in a stretch of coastline measuring 1,250 meters.
A “Mar de Fondo” (literal translation; Bottom Sea) as it’s referred to here, is more commonly known as a “swell”. It is an under the ocean movement of water that spreads outside the area where it was generated and can reach remote locations. It is the product of the wind in the location it was generated, but not the area it reaches.
Some swells can travel under the water for thousands of kilometers. You may also see a swell referred to as a “Mar Tendida”, meaning a stretched sea for its long and continuous under ocean wave. A big swell can cause similar damage to that of a tsunami which is different in that it’s caused by seismic movements at the bottom of the sea and not wind.
The local council, Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure (MTI) and the National System for the Prevention, Mitigation and Attention of Disasters (SINAPRED) are working on a plan to prevent further damage to the coastline.
New and existing rock was being used to enhance the sea wall or dike, hoping that that the rebuilt wall will absorb the impact of the swell and high tides and save the rest of the homes that remain at risk.
This swell warning will be in effect throughout the national territory until Wednesday of next week (June 2nd 2021).
