Heavy rain in El
Salvador leaves 91 dead and 60 missing
SAN
SALVADOR, November 8. – The government minister of
El Salvador, Humberto Centeno, officially reported
on Sunday that the number of people dead as a result
of the intense rainstorms that have lashed the
country in the past few days has risen to 91. The
rains were attributed to a low pressure system in
the Pacific, intensified by the passing of Hurricane
Ida. Ida alone caused the evacuation of 7,000 people,
with 60 people reported missing to date, AP
indicated.
The rainstorms in that Central American nation
have most affected the departments of San Salvador
and San Vicente. An orange alert was declared in the
country, requiring families most exposed to danger
to evacuate, Centeno explained at a press conference.
He added, "It has been impossible to access many of
the affected municipalities," although he did signal
that search and rescue groups are working in all of
the affected areas.
San Vicente’s highest ranking official, Manuel
Castellanos, stated that dozens of people from that
municipality had been transferred to shelters, that
water and electricity services had collapsed, but
that despite persistent rain, municipal workers had
repaired various destroyed bridges and access roads.
Meanwhile, the mayor of Verapaz, Antonio
Cerritos, told the country’s National Radio that the
heavy rain also caused landslides on the
Chichontepec volcano, situated in that region,
burying several homes.
