Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras were stung by tropical storm Agatha over the weekend which cut a serious swath of devastation. While each nation suffered, it was Guatemala which was hit the hardest taking on damage that to some degree may be irreparable - at least in the near future. The loss was not just hard assets, but at the minimum 1155 people residing in the country.

The earliest estimates in Guatemala reported 92 dead, 54 missing, and 59 injured according to government emergency services personnel. As is often the tragedy in such incidents, some of the missing are found only to be reported in the column of the deceased as the rescue efforts press on. Some 112,000 people were evacuated from the hardest hit areas, and around 29,000 were in or being placed in temporary shelters with the numbers growing.

The tropical storm itself was not the actual problem, it was the collateral damage caused the passage which triggered mudslides that has been the real killer in this tragedy. In Guatemala City, a giant sinkhole (Which can be seen here)was created which is large enough to encompass an area the size of a street intersection. Reports from eyewitnesses detail how it swallowed a neighboring home and three story building. There is a report that a security fell into the hole as it opened up, but that has to be confirmed. At last count, 13 bridges have collapsed with more impassable or considered too unstable to risk crossing making the rescue efforts and cleanup efforts tasks which will be hampered. At least 13 rivers have swelled beyond what is considered safe levels.

In El Salvador, nine fatalities have been reported and river levels are quickly returning to normal. While it is hard to say anyone or nation got of light, In comparison, El Salvador fared well. Some services will be canceled until further notice, however for the most part it is expected the country will be up and running within 48 hours.

For Guatemala City the story is much different. Tropical storm Agatha comes on the heels of a volcanic eruption which while not nearly as devastating as the Mt. Pinatubo eruption coupled with a tropical storm the Philippines experienced in the early 1990’s, it is still the makings for a tremendous mess whose cleanup will be laborious at best. The Red Cross and assorted relief agencies should be announcing how people can help victims very soon.  Amanda Fox