Severe weather affects more than 10 000 people in Guatemala

More than 10 000 people have been affected by floods and landslides across 8 departments of Guatemala from May 21 to 24, 2021. Around 200 homes were damaged, one person was injured, and hundreds of others were displaced.

Days of heavy rain hit the departments of Baja Verapaz, Izabal, Peten, Quetzaltenango, San Marcos, Santa Rosa, Sololá, and Suchitepequez, according to disaster agency CONRED. 

In Quetzaltenango, flooding left 50 homes damaged, 1 300 people affected, and 300 others displaced. Videos on social media showed the dire situation in which flooding raged through the streets of Almolonga municipality.

The department had previously seen heavy rain and flooding in the previous week, which affected 235 people, mostly in San Miguel Siguila, from May 15 to 16.

In Izabal Department, heavy rains triggered flooding in the municipality of Livingston, damaging around 30 houses. Strong winds and rains also damaged eight more homes in San Antonio Suchitepequez, while wind damage was reported in Ayutla, San Marcos Department, on May 23.

Meanwhile, landslides blocked roads in Puruluha in Baja Verapaz Department and in Concepcion, Solola Department, where 400 vehicles had to change routes.

In San Francisco Municipality, flooding damaged 36 homes and affected 216 people, while strong winds damaged 89 homes and affected 445 people in San Benito.

Rough seas and high waves were reported in Las Lisas, Chiquimulilla, Santa Rosa Department, affecting 18 people and damaging two homes. On May 14, a landslide caused by heavy rains buried a road in Oratorio, affecting 300 people.

Featured image credit: EXTREME FLOODING/YouTube