Rough seas and strong winds shut Santos port for 29 hours

The Port of Santos, located in the Baixada Santista region, experienced a 29-hour operational shutdown between Tuesday, the 29th, and Wednesday, the 30th. This suspension was caused by a strong swell that hit the region, with waves reaching up to 3.5 meters and winds gusting up to 81 km/h, according to information released by the Civil Defense.

The passage of an extratropical cyclone triggered the weather instability. According to the Santos Port Authority (APS), vessel maneuvers were initially suspended at 2 a.m. on Tuesday due to high tides and strong wind gusts. Operations only resumed late that morning.

APS classified the situation as an “impracticability condition,” leading to a second suspension of vessel entry and exit in the afternoon, which lasted until Wednesday morning. During this period, at least ten ships were held at the port.

Operations at the port resumed on Wednesday morning. This incident marked the second-longest port activity stoppage due to adverse weather conditions since September of the previous year, when the port was inactive for a total of 33 hours on alternate days due to heavy fog.

In addition to the issues at the Port of Santos, the severe weather caused flooding along the Santos seafront and downed trees in various cities throughout the region. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

The São Paulo State Secretariat for the Environment, Infrastructure, and Logistics also reported partial interruptions in ferry crossings between Guarujá and Bertioga; however, service has since resumed. Currently, all eight coastal crossings in the state are operational.

On the southern coast of São Paulo, Beira Mar Avenue in Ilha Comprida sustained significant damage due to the swell. According to the state’s Civil Defense, approximately one kilometer of the road has been closed off, and traffic is being rerouted via alternative routes.

Local Civil Defense teams are mobilized to support affected residents and are working with the municipal government to remove downed trees. So far, there have been no reports of injuries, displaced individuals, or people left homeless.

The swell also prompted warnings in the state of Rio de Janeiro through 9 p.m. on Thursday (31st). The Navy forecasted waves ranging from 2.5 to 4 meters during this period. The peak of the high tide was recorded around 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday, impacting the Rio waterfront, especially in the southern zone. As in São Paulo, no injuries were reported.

On Tuesday (29th), the effects of the strong waves were evident in the Leblon neighborhood, where Delfim Moreira Avenue had to be closed. Waves reached the sidewalks and crossed the road, causing damage to nearby properties. In Copacabana, beachfront kiosks were also damaged by the force of the sea.

Source: ABC do ABC

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