Hurricane Gert was a large tropical cyclone that caused extensive flooding throughout Central America and Mexico in September 1993. It originated over the southwestern Caribbean Sea and briefly attained tropical storm strength before crossing Nicaragua, Honduras, and the Yucatán Peninsula. Once over warm water in the Bay of Campeche, Gert grew into a Category 2 hurricane and made landfall on the Gulf Coast of Mexico. The cyclone quickly weakened to a depression over the rugged terrain and eventually dissipated over the Pacific Ocean. Gert's broad wind circulation produced heavy rain across Central America, flooding property and crops. Although the highest winds occurred upon landfall in Mexico, the worst effects there were due to extreme rainfall of 31.41 inches (798 mm) over the mountains. Following the overflow of several rivers, expansive parts of the Huasteca region became submerged, forcing tens of thousands to evacuate. Roads across the affected countries were severely disrupted, and thousands became homeless. The disaster killed 116 people, left 16 missing, and caused $170 million in damage.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Gert_(1993)
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1789:
French Revolution: Upset about the high price and scarcity of bread, thousands of Parisian women and their various allies marched on the royal palace at Versailles. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_March_on_Versailles
1910:
The Portuguese Republican Party organised a coup d'etat, deposed the constitutional monarchy and implanted a republican regime in Portugal. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5_October_1910_revolution
1930:
The British airship R101 crashed in France en route to India on its maiden voyage, killing 48 passengers and crew. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R101
1975:
Dirty War: The guerrilla group Montoneros carried out Operation Primicia, a terrorist attack in which they hijacked an Aerolíneas Argentinas flight, captured the Formosa International Airport, and attacked a military regiment. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Primicia
2000:
Serbian engineering vehicle operator Ljubisav Đokić rammed the Radio Television of Serbia building with a wheel loader in a protest known as the Bulldozer Revolution, causing Slobodan Milošević to resign two days later. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overthrow_of_Slobodan_Milo%C5%A1evi%C4%87
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
hinterland: 1. The land immediately next to, and inland from, a coast. 2. The rural territory surrounding an urban area, especially a port. 3. A remote or undeveloped area, a backwater. 4. (figuratively) That which is unknown or unexplored about someone. 5. (figuratively) Anything vague or ill-defined, especially one that is ill understood. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/hinterland
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
The good of the people must be the great purpose of government. By the laws of nature and of reason, the governors are invested with power to that end. And the greatest good of the people is liberty. It is to the state what health is to the individual. --Denis Diderot https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Denis_Diderot