SAN SALVADOR (HPD) — One of the largest rivers in El Salvador continues to wreak havoc in the eastern part of the country by overflowing and flooding more than five farming and ranching communities. Given the danger, the authorities began the mandatory evacuation of hundreds of people to safer shelters.
The Presidency reported on Thursday that police and military were evacuating the inhabitants of the Puerto Parada canton, after the overflow of the Rio Grande, in the department of Usuluán, 125 kilometers southeast of the capital.
Authorities used small boats with oars to remove people and their pets and belongings, while others walked out into waist-deep water.
The flow of the Rio Grande increased with the passage of storm Julia and when it overflowed on Sunday it flooded several communities in the city of San Miguel and neighboring municipalities, which until Thursday were still flooded. Most of the people lost all their belongings.
The waters of the Rio Grande flooded hundreds of acres of agricultural crops. Dozens of damaged homes and the loss of belongings are reported.
The authorities reported that they will remain in the area to guarantee the properties of the inhabitants of the communities of Puerto Parada.
Julia’s passage through El Salvador left a balance of ten people dead, including a child and five soldiers.