Emergencies caused by the season rains in Guatemala continue to rise, and the balance worsened in the last hours with the report of a new fatality, which rises to 6 the total number of deaths.
According to the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (Conred), the last emergency occurred in the village Paculamvillage Guinealesin the municipality of Nahualá, Sololá. In this place, the intense rainfall caused a landslide that caused the death of a minor.
Members of the Local Committee for Disaster Reduction and residents of the civil community had to coordinate to carry out the rescue efforts of the body.
According to the most recent report issued by the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED), the country registers an accumulated 364 emergencies confirmed, of which 31 occurred in the last 24 hours.
The seriousness of the situation is reflected both in the social impact and in the increase in human and material losses, with Alta Verapaz and the southern coastal region among the most vulnerable areas of the country.
The number of people affected increased to 5 thousand 208 for contingencies that increased in different regions, associated with the effects of Storm Cristina, which weakened to a tropical depression.
Although it lost strength, the National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology (Insivumeh) warns that the abundant entry of humidity and significant rain conditions continue in almost the entire territory.
Alta Verapaz and the South Coast underwater
As historically occurs in the rainy season, Alta Verapaz remains more vulnerable with 72 registered emergenciesmainly due to floods and landslides. Following on the list of critical regions is the department of Guatemala with 48 incidents and Chiquimula with 35.
Sacatepéquez It also records 30 emergencies and then follows Quetzaltenango with 21 emergencies, These are the five regions most affected so far.
The Conred detailed that, in a recent period of 48 hours (between June 8 and 10), 72 emergencies were recorded, concentrated strongly in the south of the country. Santa Rosa registered 10 incidents, followed by Escuintla and Guatemala with 9 each.
Damage assessments reveal a strong housing impact from severe flooding:
- Chiquimulilla, Santa Rosa (Sector 2 Aldea las Lisas): The most affected point, with 97 homes damaged and 420 people affected.
- Cuilapa, Santa Rosa (La Choricera neighborhood): 52 homes damaged and 252 affected.
- Chiquimulilla, Santa Rosa (Los Macizos Village Sector 2): 43 homes damaged and 208 affected.
- Moyuta, Jutiapa (Barra Jiote Village): 40 homes damaged and 141 people affected.
Alert in the Pacific
The situation according to Insivumeh and local authorities is considered critical on the Pacific coast. The strong waves associated with the Tropical Storm Cristina has unleashed a storm surge that has already caused severe damage to beaches and tourist and community infrastructure in Iztapa and La Barrona in Escuintla, and in Monterrico, Santa Rosa.
The advance of the sea has destroyed multiple residential and commercial villas located near the beach line. One of the most dramatic situations is experienced in Iztapa, where the waves reached the cemetery of The Conacaste.
A sector on Atitancito beach, where the Storm Christina showed a crisis due to the advance of the sea in the coastal towns of southern Guatemala, which in that region has damaged or destroyed chalets or tourist infrastructure, which have now been washed away by the sea.
This maritime crisis is not exclusive to Guatemala; The eastern Pacific and the rest of Central America are also reporting coastal flooding and dangerous rip currents due to the magnitude of the tropical system.
Read also: Why the supermoon maintains the risk of strong waves in Guatemala after Storm Cristina