( dpa )- Surprisingly strong winds, with gusts of over 100 kilometres per hour, caused damage of at least 12 million dollars in the northern city of Monterrey and in 14 towns in the eastern state of Veracruz, Mexican authorities said Wednesday.
Monterrey was worst affected by strong winds late Tuesday. Some 500,000 people remained without electricity a day later, the Federal Electricity Commission said.
Monterrey businesses denounced that the storm - which brought down billboards, broke window panes and tore off some roofs - had a great effect on commercial activity, due to the power blackout.
The authorities in Veracruz said 14 municipalities were left without electricity and that 215 houses lost their roofs.
Due to the strong winds, the ports of Veracruz, Tamaulipas, Tampico and Altamira were also put on alert.