Heavy downpours over the weekend triggered floods and landslides in Guatemala, killing at least three people and causing buildings to collapse. The victims were said to be the first casualties of the rainy season in the country, which lasts from May to November.
On May 9, 2020, a landslide occurred on a highway in the municipality of Tajumulco in the San Marcos Department. According to the National Coordination for Disaster Reduction (CONRED), one person died in the incident.
Days later, on May 11, two more people lost their lives after a wall collapsed due to heavy rain in Zacapa, the same department.
The rainy season in Guatemala usually starts in May and ends in November, but showers have been hitting the southern region since late April.
As of May 11, around 16 000 people had been affected by 19 disasters caused by severe weather. About 50 houses have been partially or totally damaged, and 44 people displaced.
In the municipality of San Lorenzo in the Suchitepequez Department, 15 homes were damaged due to strong winds and heavy rain. 15 more houses were damaged in Livingston, Izabal Department.
Another landslide was reported in Santa Catalina la Tinta in the department of Alta Verapaz, affecting several residential areas.
ALTA VERAPAZ. La saturación de agua en el suelo ocasionó un deslizamiento en el caserío Palestina Carabajal, La Tinta, Alta Verapaz. La Coordinadora Local para la Reducción de Desastres -COLRED- y la Municipalidad brindaron respuesta al incidente. pic.twitter.com/sKomJxPRJY
— CONRED (@ConredGuatemala) May 11, 2020
SUCHITEPÉQUEZ. Las lluvias y fuertes vientos causan daños en techos de 15 viviendas de la aldea Valle Candelaria, San Lorenzo, Suchitepéquez. Instituciones que integran el Sistema CONRED realizan la Evaluación de Daños y Análisis de Necesidades -EDAN-. pic.twitter.com/zjF5v0kSiA
— CONRED (@ConredGuatemala) May 12, 2020
Caserio El Canal, Aldea La Fragua, Zacapa, dos menores fallecida y una persona herida al quedar soterradas,@CBMDEPTAL coordina a elementos de la Policía Nacional Civil y Ministerio y se traslada al Heriso al Hospital Regional de Zacapa. pic.twitter.com/foU7zOxu0x
— BDepartamentales (@CBMDEPTAL) May 10, 2020
La @CONRED informó que la fuerte lluvia y vientos del domingo en la tarde afectaron especialmente al sur del departamento de Guatemala, en los municipios de San Miguel Petapa y Villa Nueva. Vía: @kmarroquin_eu pic.twitter.com/Ex9PhNnMaD
— Emisoras Unidas (@EmisorasUnidas) May 11, 2020
ZACAPA:
— CONRED (@ConredGuatemala) May 10, 2020
En horas de la mañana se registró el colapso de una pared de block, en el caserío El Canal, Aldea La Fragua, cuerpos de socorro trabajaron en el área para el rescate de los afectados que fueron trasladados al hospital Regional de Zacapa.
Fuente: Carlos Godoy. pic.twitter.com/5FGMgQlHG1
Featured image credit: CONRED
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