Guatemala hit by Nature: The eruption of Pacaya volcano and the tropical storm Agatha have already left 14 dead

Guatemala, on Saturday, suffered the effects of the first tropical storm of the season, Agatha, and the violent eruption of Pacaya volcano, which has already left 14 dead, nearly 3,500 damaged and about 2000 evacuees.

According to the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction, “Twelve of the victims were killed by the rains, among them four are children, who died after a landslide fell on their homes in San Jose Pinula, 17 km east of Guatemala City. Eleven people were also reported as missing. “

A spokesman for Conred, David De Leon confirmed that “there are also 3377 people affected, 575 houses damaged, 16 of which were destroyed and 807 evacuated.”

According to the National Hurricane Center in America “Tropical Storm Agatha is the first of the season and reached peak winds of 65 km / h”.

President Alvaro Colom in a press conference, said “the heavy rains caused also landslides that blocked major roads and caused the overflowing of rivers.”

According to the news “in the municipality of Almolonga, 220 km west of the capital, were rescued 12 American and Austrian tourists who were trapped in a resort due to the collapse of the road.”

The departments of the country most affected by the storm are: Chimaltenango, Quetzaltenango and Solola (west) and Suchitepéquez, Escuintla and Retalhuleu (south).

The head of the Secretary of Social Communication of the Presidency, Ronaldo Robles confirmed to local media that “We believe that the storm Agatha could cause more damage in the country than the storm Mitch (1998) and the Hurricane Stan (2005).”

President Colom, now must face the two phenomena that are affecting the country, and announced that “will contract a loan of $ 85 million with the World Bank.”

Stating that “They are important resources to cover these emergencies. That’s a lot of money, which will not replace the normal actions of government.”

The Head of State cancelled the trips planned for next week to the Dominican Republic and Canada.