A young woman sparked an uproar after bizarrely claiming that residents of Mexico's southeastern state of Yucatan created Hurricane Milton to close businesses and schools so they could stay at home.
The woman, who identifies herself as Sandra Orozco on social media, complained at the beginning of last week about not being able to continue her normal life after returning to her residence in the city of Mérida after the holidays.
Orozco spread the wild conspiracy theory online — before apologizing for his comments after the devastating hurricane made landfall.
“Listen, it seems to me that the Yucatecas invent these hurricanes or that they are category 5 and so on so that they don't have to work, so that the children don't go to school and stay at home doing nothing,” Orozco said during the recording a video that he posted on his Instagram Story for 30 of his closest friends.
'Because it's not even raining. Literally, absolutely nothing is happening, but everything is closed. You can’t go to Oxxo, it’s closed,” she said, referring to the chain of convenience stores in Mérida, where she has lived for 10 years.
Sandra Orozco caused a stir last week when she recorded a video for her 30 close friends on Instagram indicating that residents of Yucatán, Mexico, 'invented' Hurricane Milton to close businesses and schools and stay home
In a video to 30 of her closest friends on Instagram, Sandra Orozco said: 'Listen, it seems to me that the Yucatecas invent these hurricanes or that they are category 5 and so on, so that they don't have to work, so that the Children don't go to school and stay at home doing nothing'
Orozco rambled that all essential businesses were closed to the public because “it seems to me that people really do this because they don’t want to work and they don’t want to do anything.”
'But nothing is happening. Not in Merida. It is not necessary for them to do everything they do. Hmm, the truth is that it is very tedious,” she said.
'I came back from my trip yesterday, I wanted to go to the supermarket, go to the gym… everything is closed. It’s not even raining, man,” she added. 'I mean, tell me why there are hurricanes every now and then in Mérida and nothing happens, but everyone is locked up, doesn't give a shit, eating and so on.
'That's why I tell you that if you want to live a life, live that life. Don't live a life you don't want to live. Because, man, you're just looking for excuses to get out of this life you live that you don't like at any point.'
Orozco finally walked back her comments and apologized on TikTok last Wednesday after her followers inundated her with criticism.
“What I said was completely out of line and I am 100% aware of that,” she said. 'I know I spoke out of complete ignorance. I know it was super wrong, that it was a bad joke.
'I know it's not right. I know what I said was completely wrong. I know it was a very bad joke, but I want you to know that it was a joke, that I made a sarcastic comment, a bad joke, that I made to my closest friends,” Orozco said.
“I never really thought it would hurt different people or that it would offend more people or that it would reach my closest friends.”
Orozco was surprised that her comments were revealed by one of her friends, ten of whom she says live in the Yucatan.
Sandra Orozco apologized for claiming Yucatán residents 'invented' Hurricane Milton and said she was just being sarcastic
A woman walks in the rain caused by Hurricane Milton in Mérida, a city in Mexico's southeastern Yucatán state, on October 8.
Bare foundations and debris are seen after buildings were swept away and destroyed by Hurricane Milton on Manasota Key in Englewood, Florida, on Sunday.
President Joe Biden speaks after meeting with federal, state and local officials in St. Pete Beach, Florida, during a tour of areas affected by Hurricane Milton on Sunday
“Like when you talk to someone you trust, I thought I was talking to someone I completely trusted and I was sharing something I was thinking at the time,” she said.
Hurricane Milton formed in the Bay of Campeche on October 7 and spared the coastal states of Quintana Roo and Yucatán as it intensified from a tropical depression to a Category 5 hurricane – the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale.
It weakened to a Category 3 storm and made landfall on the west coast of Florida last Wednesday.
At least 23 people died and left nearly 3 million Florida residents without electricity.
Power is expected to be restored to all homes, according to U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, who joined President Joe Biden for a tour of St. Pete Beach on Saturday.
