GUATEMALA – Severe damages to infrastructure and at least 13 people died due the heavy rains in the last 3 days. The Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (Conred) stated today that red alert has been issued, in anticipation of possible disasters that might arise due to Tropical Depression 12-E, which affects all of Central America.
President Colom stated to the Press that victims are affected by the rains due to landslides and rising water levels in at least 12 rivers. He said: “I want to send a message to the people to be careful to travel on roads that are likely to collapse and get away from the river banks, because rivers are overflowing.”
INSIVUMEH (The National Meteorological, Seismological, Hydrological and Vulcanological Institute) informed hat the rains will continue over the next 48 hours. The governors of the 22 departments have been alerted.
So far the official statistics of damages are: 130 thousand people affected by the rains, 2,660 people have suffered damages, 3,546 people are in shelters and 346 houses have been damaged.
INSIVUMEH issued a special warning for the Pacific coast area where rainfall is expected to be very heavy in the next hours.
Public and private schools are suspended in at least 3 departments: Sololá, Jutiapa and Quetzaltenango according to the Ministry of Education.
Conred Director, Alejandro Maldonado, stated that Tropical Depression 12-E could turn into a storm in the next few hours.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Ludwig Ovalle said Guatemalan hospitals and health centers are on orange alert in order to prioritize care for Guatemalans who are affected by the natural phenomena.
Picture: La Hora, The Weather Channel
