Civil protection in Guatemala (System of the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction – CONRED) reported on 18 May that almost 6,000 people had been affected by heavy rain and flooding over the last 3 days.
The country’s National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology (Insivumeh) said that over 100 mm of rain fell in 24 hours in 6 different locations on 15 May and in 3 different locations the next day.
CONRED says that there have been 19 incidents of flooding and damaging rainfall, affecting 5,594 people. The worst affected departments are Chiquimula, El Progreso, Guatemala, Petén, Quetzaltenango, Sacatepéquez, Sololá, San Marcos and Suchitepéquez.
Around 240 people have evacuated their homes. Over 100 houses have been damaged and a further 27 severely damaged or destroyed. Seven roads and a bridge have also suffered damage.
Insivumeh has forecast further heavy rain across the country, in particular in southern areas.

Social Media
Alerta Amarilla Institucional
Debido al incremento de lluvias en el territorio nacional y los efectos en la población #CruzRojaGT incrementa su nivel de alerta institucional de verde a amarilla. pic.twitter.com/ZaSVZ0KNph
— CruzRojaGT (@CRGuatemalteca) May 17, 2018
#LluviaXela • Vecinos de El Calvario, zona 1 de #Xela, trasladan imágenes sobre la situación en la que se encuentran a esta hora tras el torrencial aguacero de este miércoles. pic.twitter.com/UeO1oZzo6N
— RBCNoticiasGT (@RBCNoticiasGT) May 17, 2018
#DEPARTAMENTALES: Así se veía el casco urbano de Xelajú, Quetzaltenango derivado a las fuertes lluvias generadas esta tarde. pic.twitter.com/rAEB3fHQC2
— Radio Punto (@RadioPuntoGT) May 17, 2018
Mapa de pronóstico de Lluvia 24hrs. Válido: 18 de Mayo. @CIVguate pic.twitter.com/aca85c68d2
— INSIVUMEH Guatemala (@insivumehgt) May 18, 2018