EscucharGUATEMALA CITY - Non-stop rains that have flooded the southern part of Guatemala the last two days killed four people, affected 16,426 others, destroyed 40 homes and caused heavy damage on 700 others, the National Commission for the Reduction of Disasters (CONRED in Spanish) reported.
President Alvaro Arzú declared the Escuintla region in ``Red Emergency'' after he flew over the area with CONRED chairman Homero García. The declaration authorizes all rescue corps and official institutions to direct all of their resources to help the area in distress.
García told the press that two of the main rivers in the area overflowed and washed through several towns. The Coyolate River, he explained, rose 4 meters (over 13 feet) above its usual level and caused heavy damage in the town of Texcuaco.
The Port of San José, on the Pacific, was heavily damaged by the Achiguate River, Luis Recinos, also of CONRED, reported. He added that the town of Santa Ana Mixtán and the village of El Chato, both in the department of Escuintla, were also flooded by the Achiguate.
Another CONRED official, Benedicto Girón, pointed out that Escuintla is highly endangered by the unusual rainfall. ``Unless the weather turns, more fatalities cannot be ruled out,'' he asserted.
Meteorologists explained that the current heavy rains result from a low-pressure disturbance located off the Pacific coast. They added that the rains from this phenomenom, which is slowly moving toward Mexico, follow closely on the tracks of those visited upon the same area by Tropical Storm Olaf last weekend.
CONRED's Girón stated satisfaction at the ``Red Emergency declaration'' issued by President Arzú. ``This will enable us to handle the emergency properly, because it means all of the resources available will be destined to address the needs of the victims.''
Salvadoran toll
In El Salvador, meanwhile, Tropical Storm Olaf has caused heavy rains the last five days and was the reason for the death of at least one person, authorities reported.
They explained that Alberto Pérez, a 30 year-old TACA Airlines employee, was killed when a wall was washed down by a flood.
Salvadoran Red Cross spokesman Carlos López said that several other people have been injured by the stormy weather and that no less than 80 families have lost their homes to the overflowing of a river in the department of La Libertad.
Experts from the National Meteorological Service forecast that the rains will continue for the remainder of this week.
