Hurricane ETA leaves 150 dead in Guatemala

Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei said the death toll from heavy rains from Tropical Storm ETA could reach 150.

At a press conference, Giammattei said that a rescue brigade entered Queja village in Alta Verapaz Department on Friday, where the Guatemalan Army reported that around 150 houses had been buried by landslides.

“Among the deceased and disappeared, the unofficial figures show us 150 dead. They are unofficial because we do not have them fully confirmed,”  the president added.

More than 75,000 people were directly affected by landslides and floods, he said, adding that several groups of people in the affected areas refused to leave their homes despite severe floods.

The country’s national disaster reduction coordinator said only eight deaths have been officially confirmed so far.

E.M