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Forecasters warn of the arrival of another mass bloom of Sargassum

Riviera Maya, Q.R. — Local sargassum monitoring networks are forecasting the arrival of another large bloom. According to Esteban Amaro, director of the Sargassum Monitoring Network, the large forecast mass of seaweed has been located north of Honduras.

Currents are directing it toward the coast of Quintana Roo. Amaro says this particular bloom is a much larger concentration than what arrived several weeks ago. He said that since the arrival of the first wave in April, smaller amounts have continued to arrive on a near daily basis.

Beaches most affected this year have been Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen and Tulum, he said.

“Right now throughout the month of May, we have already had frequent arrivals, but in about 15 or 20 days it will intensify even more because the amount of sargassum that is accumulating in the area that I mentioned is much larger than the concentrated mass that arrived a month or so ago,” he explained.

Amaro says this current mass is located further north and is expected to affect Cancun beaches, which, up until now, have not been hit hard.

“It is expected that it will reach the Cancun Hotel Zone, which has been kept relatively clear,” he said noting that the bloom will likely start arriving in about two weeks.