Guatemala - Severe weather

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 06:44:56 +01:00

Torrential rain and strong winds have affected most parts of the country following the passage of Hurricane ETA, causing landslides and floods and resulting in an increasing number of deaths and damage.
According to media reports, at least 150 people have died or are missing after a landslide in Queja village (Alta Verapaz Department, central Guatemala).
The National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction reports, 97,082 evacuated people, almost 640,000 affected and 24,190 damaged houses across the Departments of Petén, Quiché, Alta Verapaz, Izabal, Chiquimula, Zacapa, Jutiapa, El Progreso and Santa Rosa.
On 5 November, a state of public calamity was declared for the affected Departments and on 11 November, the Government of Guatemala made a request for assistance to activate the UCPM in response to the situation.
For the next 24 hours, moderate rain is forecast over central and southern Departments.

Central America, The Caribbean - Tropical Cyclone ETA

Thu, 05 Nov 2020 06:08:50 +01:00

On 4 November, Hurricane ETA degraded to Tropical Storm, continued inland over northern Nicaragua entering Honduras. On 5 November, its center was located approximately 100 km east of Tegucigalpa (the capital of Honduras). The President has declared National Emergency.
UN OCHA reports, as of 5 November, 2 fatalities and around 30,000 displaced people across Nicaragua. Assessments are ongoing, but initial data received at field level indicates a critical situation, especially in the northern east coast.
In Honduras, one fatalities, more than 2,500 displaced people and 3,480 affected people were also reported. UN OCHA also refers to 27,770 affected people in Guatemala, 1,000 in Panama, and around 500 displaced people across Costa Rica.
ETA is forecast to continue inland over central Honduras on 5 November as a Tropical Depression. After that, it is expected to move north-east over the Caribbean Sea on 6-8 November and could approach central Cuba in the afternoon (UTC) of 8 November as a Tropical Storm. On 5-9 November, heavy rainfall, strong wind and storm surge are forecast over the region.