Tropical Storm Julia kills at least eight people; 4 in Honduras, 3 in El Salvador, 1 in Nicaragua

Photo Credit: Guatemala’s Disaster Management Organization Conred

By Rubén Morales Iglesias: Hurricane Julia, now a tropical depression, is responsible for at least eight deaths in Central America. According to news coming out of the neighbouring countries 4 died in Honduras, 3 in El Salvador, and 1 in Nicaragua.

The hurricane turned tropical storm and now tropical depression hit Nicaragua yesterday and overnight crossed into the Pacific Ocean causing heavy rains over Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama, and Belize.

El Intra News said authorities in El Salvador reported three people had died. Two died when a wall fell over a house in the Department of Morazán, about 90 miles east of San Salvador. Another person died when a tree fell over a house in Sonsonate.

According to the Associated Press, one man died in Nicaragua when a tree fell on him.

El Intra News reports that in Honduras the bodies of a woman between 26 and 28 years of age and a four-year-old boy were found after a boat capsized in the department of Gracias a Dios in the Caribbean coast. A 22-year-old woman died after she was dragged by the currents of a river in the northern Sula Valley near the border with Guatemala. Associated Press reports that a 30-year-old man died after he was swept away by currents as well.

In Guatemala, two people were reported missing and two were hospitalized. Approximately 1,300 people had to evacuate because of floods and rising waters.

In Nicaragua, Vice President Rosario Murillo said on television that 9,500 people had been evacuated to shelters. El Intra News said that over 2,000 houses were destroyed and more than 3,000 were flooded.

In El Salvador, 830 persons were evacuated, and 141 homes were reported flooded, said El Intra News.

In Colombia, Julia damaged the roofs of several houses and knocked down trees as it pummeled San Andres Island east of Nicaragua.

Schools were closed in Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua on Monday. The Guatemalan government ordered schools closed on Tuesday as well according to Guatemalan radio network Emisoras Unidas.