66 thousand affected leave the first hours of the cyclone in Guatemala; classes are suspended at all levels
Government authorities reported on the night of October 9 that the tropical storm Julia It has already left at least 66,350 affected, when the center of the cyclone has not yet touched national soil and until now it is about to leave the Pacific Ocean on the Nicaraguan coast.
Officials who participated in a press conference this Sunday, informed of the preventive measures that have been taken in the face of the possible effects of the tropical cyclone, including the transfer of thousands of food rations to different parts of the country and the total suspension of classes throughout the national territory, at all levels, at least on October 10 and 11.
“The suspension of classes goes to all sectors, municipal, cooperative, private, public, and extracurricular education subsystem. Our mission is to protect the physical integrity of students and the educational community,” said Education Minister Claudia Ruiz Casasola.
Until now, most of the damage is concentrated in Izabal, where the outlet of the Caribbean Sea It has flooded a good part of the departmental capital, Puerto Barrios, and several communities in that city and in municipalities such as El Estor, Los Amates and Morales, although they have also been reported in Huehuetenango and Quiché.
The executive secretary of the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (Conred) indicated that they have counted seven emergencies as a result of Julia, four in Izabal, two in Huehuetenango and one in Zacapa.
Likewise, three bridges have been affected in Izabal, as well as three highways, one in this department and two more in Huehuetenango.
Heavy rains
The forecast of the National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology (Insivumeh) says that Abundant rains are expected at least Monday and Tuesday. Julia could be more dangerous if it gets stronger once it hits the waters of the Pacific Ocean.
The president of the republic, Alejandro Giammattei, said that “the vast majority of the country” pA total of 280 of all municipalities may be affected or greatly affected by the tropical storm.
He added that the people who were affected during the passage of the storms Eta and Iota in 2020 they will most likely suffer the impacts of Julia; however, unlike on that occasion, the president affirmed, Measures have already been taken, such as moving food in advance to areas that will receive large amounts of rain.
He called on the population that lives on the banks of rivers, as well as on the slopes of ravines and other risk areas, especially in the capital, to “be careful” and stay away from those places.
“We are better prepared.” asserted the ruler, who indicated that, for the moment, a state of calamity cannot be decreed because it is implemented when the damage has already occurred and until now, the affectation does not merit it.
He added that both the Ministry of Social Development and the Ministry of Agriculture have more than 60 tons of food. In total they have around 87 thousand food rations, reported the ministers of those portfolios.
season numbers
The rainy season in the country, since last April, has already left a total of 2,340 incidents, Conred reported, including 615 floods, 471 landslides and 366 landslides.
These have left a balance of 49 dead, six missing, and 23 injured, as well as 9,910 victims, 100 bridges damaged, 13 roads destroyed, and a total of 4,382,000 affected.
#Evacuation in Izabal 🚨 #RedCrossGT continues to carry out the evacuation of several families who have been trapped by the floods in Santo Tomás de Castilla de Puerto Barrios, moving them to a safe area. pic.twitter.com/JAwxa0TZzZ
– CruzRojaGT (@CRGuatemalteca) October 9, 2022
#Monitoring in Izabal 🚨 #RedCrossGT reports the overflow of a river on km260 route CA-9 North, jurisdiction of Morales. ⚠️ Caution when driving through the area. pic.twitter.com/srfBPHsGd1
– CruzRojaGT (@CRGuatemalteca) October 9, 2022
