Drones warned New York City residents about storm flooding. The Spanish translation drew mockery

A man sells umbrellas as people walk through the rain in Manhattan as a severe storm moves through the area in the early evening on Aug 6, 2024 in New York City. City officials had touted the high-tech message-delivery devices ahead of expected flash flooding on Aug 6. But when video of a drone delivering the warning in English and Spanish was shared widely on social media, users quickly mocked the pronunciation of the Spanish version delivered to a city where roughly a quarter of all residents speak the language at home. — AFP

NEW YORK: New York City emergency management officials have apologised for a hard-to-understand flood warning issued in Spanish by drones flying overhead in some neighbourhoods.

City officials had touted the high-tech message-delivery devices ahead of expected flash flooding on Aug 6. But when video of a drone delivering the warning in English and Spanish was shared widely on social media, users quickly mocked the pronunciation of the Spanish version delivered to a city where roughly a quarter of all residents speak the language at home.