2009 El Salvador floods and mudslides

Meteorological history

In early November, an area of low pressure formed in the Pacific Ocean west of Central America. The low pressure system in the Pacific moved closer to the coasts of El Salvador and Guatemala triggering light to moderate rainfalls beginning on November 6 and continuing through November 7. 355 mm of rain accumulated in 24 hours, and the total amount of rainfall reached approximately 483 mm near the Saint Vincent Volcano and between 75 mm and 350 mm in other parts of the country.

Damage

A total of 108 landslides occurred causing 209 buildings to be destroyed and damaging 1,835 more. The floods and mudslides accounted for 130 deaths and 60 people missing. The most affected regions were La Libertad, San Salvador, San Vicente, Cuscatlan and La Paz. Verapaz was also heavily affected by a landslide from the Chichontepec volcano which damaged 300 homes. Several rivers rose above flood levels, and 18 bridges were affected. The United Nations World Food Programme reported the floods washed entire harvests and up to 10,000 people were in need of food assistance.

References

References

1. "Floods, mudslides kill scores in El Salvador - CNN.com".
2. "Dozens dead in El Salvador flooding, mudslides".
3. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8350894.stm Desperate search in El Salvador], BBC
4. (10 November 2009). "Heavy Rainfall Leaves 10,000 In Need Of Food Assistance In El Salvador". World Food Programme.