Jose Nemesio Medina News

Tropical Storm Chantal slowed to a stop and dumped torrential rain on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula on Tuesday after leaving two fishermen missing at sea and forcing 2,500 evacuations from the low-lying coastline. "At 5 a.m. EDT, Chantal was in a near stationary position 15 miles south of Chetumal," said Stacy Stewart of the U.S. National Hurricane Center. "The storm is carrying torrential rains, up to 15 to 20 in.," Stewart, a hurricane specialist, said. Winds remained at 65 miles per hour (104 kph). Chantal made landfall with winds of 70 miles per hour, around 8 p.m. High winds churned up Caribbean waters and left two fishermen missing. The men ignored warnings to avoid open seas during the storm, said Jose Nemesio Medina, director of the state's civil protection services.