Guatemala – Hundreds of Homes Damaged After Floods and Landslides

by in Americas, News

Guatemala’s National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED) reported on 17 October severe weather, including heavy rain, floods and landslides, had affected several departments of the country, with Sololá, Sacatepéquez, Retalhuleu and Escuintla among the worst hit.

Currently a spate of severe weather including heavy rain, has affected wide areas of Central America, including El Salvador and Honduras and Nicaragua.

In Guatemala, CONRED reported that one person died and 2 were injured after a landslide in Sacatepéquez Municipality in Sacatepéquez Department destroyed 2 homes.

Floods in Nueva Concepción, Escuintla, damaged around 300 homes and affected 1,500 people. The overflow of the Peraz River in San Andrés Villa Seca, Retalhuleu, damaged over 20 homes.

Landslides in areas near Semetabaj and Panajachel in Sololá have led to the closure of major roads, severely disrupting traffic.

The Guatemalan Red Cross has been assisting victims in affected areas of Escuintla, Suchitepéquez and Retalhuleu departments.

Rivers

The National Institute for Seismology, Vulcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology of Guatemala (INSIVUMEH) reported that as of 17 October, 2019, two rivers were above the danger mark.

In Cuilapa, Santa Rosa Department, the Los Esclavos river stood at 1.20 metres, where danger level is 1.18 metres. The La Passion river in Las Cruces, El Petén was at 3.21 metres, above danger mark of 3 metres.

River levels in Guatemala, 17 October 2019. Image / data: INSIVUMEH

Rainy Season Takes Its Toll

This is the second spate of flooding in the country in 3 weeks. Thousands of people were affected by flooding or landslides from late September, 2019.

CONRED reported on 17 October that from the start of the rainy season in May this year, 8 people have died, 14 were injured and almost 4,000 evacuated as a result of severe weather. Furthermore 2,449 homes were damaged, along with 120 roads, 12 schools and 3 bridges.

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