Heavy rainfall in Guatemala since 26 January has caused flooding and landslides in the departments of Baja Verapaz, Petén, Alta Verapaz, Quiché and Izabal, according to the country’s disaster agency, Conred.
Conred reported landslides in San Jerónimo and Salamá in Baja Verapaz department, one in the municipality of Chajul, Quiché department, Cobán in Alta Verapaz and two in Morales in Izabal department. No fatalities or injuries have been reported.
River levels have increased after the heavy rain, including the San Francisco and San Marcos rivers in Izabal, according to Conred. Flooding has affected parts of Morales, Livingston and Puerto Barrios, which is the worst hit. Almost 90 homes have been damaged.
Flooding has blocked roads in Quiché and left some communities in the north of the province isolated.
Conred report that 11,332 people have been affected by landslides and 2,188 by floods across the country since 28 January. Over 160 people have been evacuated, including 72 currently housed in a church in Puerto Barrios, Izabal.
Guatemala’s weather agency (Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrología – INSIVUMEH) said that 142.4mm of rain fell in Puerto Barrios, Izabal, in 24 hours to 29 January. The same station recorded 147.4 mm of rain in 24 hours to 26 January.
Levels of the Lake Petén Itzá in San José, Petén, have been high for some time. As of 29 January, the lake stood at 2.81 metres, with normal maximum level considered to be 1.50.
Disaster officials say the severe weather is the result of a cold front in the Gulf of Mexico. Other countries in Central American, including El Salvador and Honduras, have issued weather warnings with the cold front expected to bring rain, strong winds and high waves.
Social Media – Floods and Landslides in Guatemala
La Champona, Morales, Izabal, las lluvias provocan el desbordamiento del Río San Francisco, se coordina con personal de la Coordinadora Municipal para la Reducción de Desastres -COMRED- y General Castro de la Segunda Brigada de Infantería para la evaluación en dicho lugar. pic.twitter.com/tlrN30ruNM
— CONRED (@ConredGuatemala) January 29, 2018
Frente frío tiene potencial de dejar MUCHA LLUVIA próximos dos días en el norte, verapaces e Izabal sin descartar inundaciones y desbordes de ríos. Aunque también dejará lluvias en el centro, occidente y oriente. Tómenlo muy en cuenta pic.twitter.com/SZAlAqJ90f
— Clima Guatemala (@ClimaenGuate) January 30, 2018
En el transcurso de la tarde hubo un deslizamiento en la comunidad Santa Anita del municipio de Cobán, esto debido a un flujo de lodo, mismo afecto 1 vivienda con daño moderado, 5 personas fueron albergadas en el Salón Comunal, solo se presentaron daños materiales. pic.twitter.com/Ckto0UvBkl
— CONRED (@ConredGuatemala) January 30, 2018
#Izabal | Así evacuan a una familia afectada por la inundación de su vivienda en Champona, Morales. @Guatevision_tv @prensa_libre pic.twitter.com/tz6MLGIw8B
— Dony Stewart (@donystewart) January 29, 2018
Seguidores comparten fotografías de la situación en varios puntos de Morales y Puerto Barrios, Izabal luego de las torrenciales lluvias que han caído desde anoche pic.twitter.com/mkCSgUV1aj
— Clima Guatemala (@ClimaenGuate) January 29, 2018
Lluvia registrada para el dia 28 de Enero del año 2018. pic.twitter.com/Nm2dvsuiWD
— INSIVUMEH Guatemala (@insivumehgt) January 29, 2018
Weather Warnings in Honduras and El Salvador
https://twitter.com/COPECO_HONDURAS/status/958083998600826880
Srio Jorge Meléndez emite AVISO por vientos Nortes de débiles a moderados y ráfagas ocasionales pic.twitter.com/Y6vCTB8iuE
— PROTECCIÓN CIVIL E.S (@PROCIVILSV) January 29, 2018
Flood Summary
Locations
B - Puerto Barrios, Izabal
C - San Jerónimo
D - Salamá
E - Chajul
F - Cobán
G - Livingston
Magnitude
Puerto Barrios, Izabal - January 28 to January 29, 2018
Puerto Barrios, Izabal - January 25 to January 26, 2018
Damages
January 26 to January 30, 2018
January 26 to January 30, 2018
Izabal department - January 26 to January 30, 2018
