Thirteen people have lost their lives due to severe flooding and landslides in El Salvador and Guatemala, as heavy rains continue to batter Central America, officials from both countries reported.
El Salvador has been the most severely affected, with five people dying on Monday in a landslide in Tacuba, a district in the western department of Ahuachapan, according to Luis Amaya, the chief of Civil Defence. This tragic incident follows the deaths of two people on Sunday, who were killed when a tree and a pole fell on their car on a highway in the capital city.
Additionally, four more fatalities were reported between Friday and Sunday due to flooding and landslides, bringing the total death toll in El Salvador to eleven.
In response to the disaster, Congress approved a state of emergency on Sunday to expedite the mobilization of resources. President Nayib Bukele has requested that Congress declare Tuesday a federal holiday to minimize commutes and reduce the risk of further tragedies.
In Guatemala, the heavy rains have also caused significant devastation. A 59-year-old woman and a 68-year-old man died on Sunday in the village of Chacaya, located in the western municipality of Sacapulas, when a wall collapsed and buried them.
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Central America frequently faces deadly natural disasters during the rainy season, which annually results in numerous fatalities and extensive damage to infrastructure. The ongoing rains since Saturday have exacerbated this year’s impact.
Adding to the regional woes, Ecuador reported an increase in the death toll from a recent landslide, which rose from six to seven people. The landslide, which injured 22 others, occurred in the tourist province of Tungurahua in southern Ecuador, triggered by persistent heavy rains.
The cumulative impact of these natural disasters underscores the urgent need for effective disaster management and preparedness strategies in Central America to mitigate the loss of lives and infrastructure damage during the rainy season.
