8,000 affected by flooding in Guatemala

© CONRED
High river levels after heavy rain in Guatemala, June 2015.

Guatemala's disaster management agency, Coordinadora Nacional para la Reducción de Desastres (CONRED), said that over 8,000 people have been affected by heavy rainfall, which has caused landslides and floods, since Saturday, 06 June 2015. The worst affected areas are the departments of Guatemala and Sacatepéquez.

Flooding in the city of Antigua Guatemala, in Sacatepequez department, affected over 5,000 people. CONRED say that the flooding was worsened by garbage blocking the city's drainage system.

The heavy rains caused a landslide at kilometer 24 of the CA-1 route, on the road to El Salvador, in the municipality of Fraijanes, Guatemala department. CONRED say that the landslide debris has since been cleared and the road re-opened.

River levels

After Saturday's heavy rainfall, the Platanitos River overflowed at San Miguel Petapa, in Guatemala department, damging 26 homes and affecting around 130 people.

Gutemala's meterological agency, INSIVUMEH, say that levels of Lake Petén Itzá in San José, in the northern Petén Department are extremely high, standing at 2.7 metres, above the maximum normal level of 1.5 metre.

INSIVUMEH say that all other river levels are reported to be within normal range, as of 08 June 2015. However, CONRED have warned that river levels are likely to rise after any further heavy rainfall.

© INSIVUMEH
Predicted rainfall in Guatemala, 08 June 2015.

CONRED Urge caution as more rain forecast

INSIVUMEH say that a low pressure system in the Pacific is likely to bring further instability and severe weather over the next few days. Between 40 to 50 mm of rain in a 24 hour period is likely, with the possibility of more in some places.

CONRED recommends that people take into account the forecasts released by INSIVUMEH, and urged the use of caution in severe weather conditions.