The rains, accompanied by strong winds, caused landslides, floods, infrastructure collapse and other disasters in much of the country.
At least 15 people have been killed and seven others injured in about 10 landslides that have caused heavy rains to hit Guatemala since early May, with more than 500,000 people affected by the floods, Civil Protection said Monday.
The victims included a woman and her six children, as well as three indigenous minor brothers, the Disaster Reduction Coordination Service (CONRED) said.
The rains, accompanied by strong winds, caused landslides, floods, infrastructure collapse and other disasters in much of this Central American country.
According to CONRED, 930 building structures were damaged, as well as eight school buildings, more than 80 roads and seven bridges, three of which were completely destroyed.
The worst-hit areas are those inhabited mainly by indigenous peoples, who are most vulnerable to natural disasters. Almost 60% of Guatemalans (17 million) live in poverty.
In 2021, rains killed 35 people, left three others missing, injured seventeen and injured 1.5 million. Nearly 12,000 had to be evacuated from their homes.
The rainy season, which generally lasts from May to November, causes hundreds of deaths each year in Central America, one of the world’s most vulnerable to climate change.
