EL SALVADOR: President Mauricio Funes declares state of emergency as tropical storm Agatha dumps more rain on the region, killing at least 16 people

Record ID: 862589

  • Title: EL SALVADOR: President Mauricio Funes declares state of emergency as tropical storm Agatha dumps more rain on the region, killing at least 16 people
  • Date: 31st May 2010
  • Summary: SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR (MAY 30, 2010) (REUTERS) ***CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** SALVADORAN PRESIDENT MAURICIO FUNES WALKING TO PODIUM FOR NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SALVADORAN PRESIDENT, MAURICIO FUNES, SAYING: "We have finally decided to declare a red alert across the entire country. I want to make clear that we have not declared this alert because of a high number of deaths. Up until now we have three deaths to mourn. One of them is a minor of 10 years of age who perished in Sensuntepeque after being struck by lightening, there are also two adults." FUNES AND GENERAL VIEW OF NEWS CONFERENCE SOUNDBITE (Spanish) SALVADORAN DEFENCE MINISTER, DAVID MUNGUIA, SAYING: "In the night we received also an order from the president of the republic to help evacuate those people that are at high risk, especially those in the coastal areas and the communities that live near different mountain ranges where there could be landslides." END OF NEWS CONFERENCE FUNES LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 15th June 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: El Salvador
  • City:
  • Country: El Salvador
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
  • Reuters ID: LVAADY2FBTGF3GVV9HFNHW8KMC20
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  • Story Text: Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes on Sunday (May 30) declared a state of emergency across El Salvador after Tropical Storm Agatha dumped more rain on the country killing at least three people.
    "We have finally decided to declare a red alert across the entire country. I want to make clear that we have not declared this alert because of a high number of deaths. Up until now we have three deaths to mourn. One of them is a minor of 10 years of age who perished in Sensuntepeque after being struck by lightening, there are also two adults," Funes told a news conference in the capital San Salvador.
    Emergency officials in El Salvador have said 5,000 people are seeking from the storm in shelters across the country.
    "In the night we received also an order from the president of the republic to help evacuate those people that are at high risk, especially those in the coastal areas and the communities that live near different mountain ranges where there could be landslides," said Defence Minister David Munguia.
    In neighboring Guatemala, Agatha has already claimed 13 lives and at least 24 people are missing.
    The storm dissipated overnight as it crossed the western mountains of Guatemala but emergency workers warned residents to expect heavy rain for several more days.
    Central America is vulnerable to heavy rains due to mountainous terrain and poor communications in rural areas. Last November's Hurricane Ida caused flooding and mudslides that killed at least 150 people as it moved past the region.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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