Agatha, the first storm of the 2010 Pacific season, devastated Guatemala and neighboring El Salvador on weekend by killing nearly 150 people and injuring hundreds. The heavy rains and winds are the biggest hurdles for victims who are unable to move anywhere and they are just forced to stand outside their broken houses. The weather department has been recorded a rain of 3 feet in the region and no one can say that whether the situation will continue or not. Reportedly, one three-storey building fell into a 200ft-deep sink hole in which one man was confirmed dead while others were missing.
The Central America nations have been ruined by this storm that has caused huge damage to their coffee’s crop. One of the residents of Guatemala, Carlota Ramos, said that she had lost everything from her house to business as water took everything of her with it.
The rescue efforts were started after sun shine when tired rescue workers started reaching needy people. A lot of others are busy cleaning roads from uprooted trees and polls so that the wounded people may reach hospitals for medical treatment. Firefighter Mario Cruz says they are working in miserable conditions and they have not any machinery to dig. Cruz is nonstop working since Friday.
In Guatemala, the confirmed death number is 123 while 59 are missing. Almost 94,000 were forced to evacuate area in Guatemala capital. Helicopters are being used in relief efforts. US government has granted $113,000 for relief efforts. Guatemala City’s international airport is closed for an unknown time period. The government is expected to request international community for aid today.