San Salvador, El Salvador - June 19, 2024

The heavy rains that have hit El Salvador since Friday have so far caused the death of 11 people in different events and the evacuation of another 882 to shelters, the National Civil Protection Commission reported on Monday.

In a press conference, the director of the National Civil Protection System of El Salvador, Luis Alonso Amaya, explained that among the deceased there are three minors and that several of the fatal events occurred due to falling trees.

For his part, the Minister of the Interior, Juan Carlos Bidegain, pointed out that the country has registered a "significant accumulation of water," and specified that there are more than 117 shelters with capacity for 6,400 people, of which 34 are already active, hosting 882 people (443 adults and 439 minors) who were evacuated preventively.

With the primary objective of safeguarding the lives of the population, the Legislative Assembly decreed on Sunday a State of National Emergency for 15 days, Bidegain said.

The Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Fernando Lopez, highlighted that several areas of the country have recorded more than 10 hours of continuous rain and some more than 16 hours, with the western area being the most affected, with accumulated rainfall exceeding 300 millimeters and up to 385.6 in Apaneca, in the department of Ahuachapan.

The heavy rainfall in El Salvador is caused by two low pressure systems that affect the Central American region and could experience cyclonic development in the next 48 hours, according to weather forecasts.

According to official figures from the Salvadoran Government, the rains have so far caused 42 landslides, 145 blocked roads and six damaged perimeter walls.

SHOTLIST:
1. various flooded areas.