Hurricane Eta hit Guatemala after making landfall in Nicaragua on Tuesday, after passing through Honduras. It is a record-tying twenty-eighth named storm, twelfth hurricane, fifth major hurricane and most powerful tropical cyclone of the extremely active 2020 Atlantic hurricane season. More importantly, Hurricane Eta appears to have been the most deadly and destructive storm to have hit Central America for some years. Undoubtably, Guatemala, appears to be the most affected.
President Giammattei said today that 75,000 people have so far been affected by Hurricane Eta which has now been downgraded to a tropical depression. He warned that this number is likely to rise and that there are many people trapped. The weather, collapsed bridges and fallen debris have hampered rescuers reaching the affected areas. Izabal, Alta Verapaz and Quiché are the most affected areas.
“We are sad”, the mayor of San Cristóbal Verapaz, Ovidio Choc Pop said when talking about the tragedy that occurred in the village of Quejá, where a hill collapsed and buried some 75 houses. It is feared that more than than a hundred people died there. Guatemala is at the end the end of the rainy season that runs from May to November. As you can imagine, the ground is saturated and so events like Hurricane Eta make landslides very likely.
Photo: Prensa Libre: Oscar Caal
The World Is Helping
Apparently, the US Ambassador to Guatemala, William Popp has authorised $200,000 to buy food and to donate to the most affected. Taiwan has also offered help. I’m sure that more countries will offer support. I read that the President will ask the Guatemalan Congress to release the $15 Million that was seized by a police raid here in Antigua Guatemala! He will also ask for a further $25 Million seized through drug trafficking and corruption to be used
to give food to the victims of Eta. If you wish to donate, then check out the various charities and organisations that you can find online. I searched Google under “Eta relief” and found quite a few.
Personally, as I write this article Guatemala is going to mourn for many more lives than have so far been accounted. So many thousands will have lost their homes and livelihoods. It’s been a tough year for Guatemala. Firstly, Covid had an enormous impact here. And now Hurricane Eta hits Guatemala!
Finally, I have just read that Eta is increasing strength becoming a tropical storm. It’s now heading towards Florida.
Thanks to Prensa Libre and Soy502
Photos: Prensa Libre-Oscar Caal and Soy502-SCSP
