Massive Waves Disrupt Peru and Ecuador, Closing Ports and Stranding Fishermen

Unusually high waves up to 13 feet have caused widespread damage, port closures, and fatalities, with conditions expected to persist into the New Year.

• Peru has closed 91 of its 121 ports and several beaches to protect lives as waves up to 13 feet high batter the coastline.
• The waves, generated by ocean surface winds off the U.S. coast, have caused significant damage to fishing boats and coastal infrastructure in Peru and Ecuador.
• Two fatalities have been reported in Ecuador, including one person in the coastal city of Manta, while no deaths have been confirmed in Peru so far.
• Thousands of fishermen have been stranded at sea, with Peruvian authorities rescuing 31 individuals, while others remain in need of assistance.
• The Peruvian navy predicts that wave activity will continue until January 1, with conditions gradually returning to normal in the early days of the New Year.

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