
Since Saturday, June 15, El Salvador has been under the influence of a low-pressure system that has caused rain in much of the country. Although the rainfall has decreased in intensity, some regions are still affected.
The rainfall over several days has not only affected El Salvador but also Guatemala, Honduras, parts of Nicaragua, and southern Mexico, causing floods, river overflows, and several fatalities. For example, in El Salvador, at least 11 people have died since the rains began, due to landslides or falling trees.
At the time of publishing this information, El Salvador and neighboring countries have had approximately 5 days of rain. The rain has stopped for a few hours but the sky has remained cloudy and there has been no sunshine on those days.
The meteorological phenomenon has been on the move since its inception, and during the last few days it has headed north of the continent, towards central and northern Mexico, where it evolved and became tropical cyclone Alberto.
The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN) has indicated that the sky remains cloudy throughout the country, with heavy rains along the coast of Sonsonate. Additionally, light intermittent rains have been reported in the coastal areas of San Vicente, Usulután, and San Miguel.
The following video is from a youtuber from El Salvador where he talked about the rains that have been falling in the last few days.
The Minister of Environment, Fernando López, urged the population to stay alert, even in areas where the rain has temporarily ceased.
“That we see no rain does not mean we should let our guard down. We will have some rain all week and also on the weekend” López expressed in a morning interview.
Amidst this situation, President Nayib Bukele requested a paid holiday for Tuesday, June 18, which was approved by the Legislative Assembly with 59 votes in favor. This aims to minimize work activity and thus reduce the risk to the population.
Bukele explained, “I have sent to the Legislative Assembly a request for tomorrow to be a national paid holiday for the public and private sectors. In this way, with just one extra day of vacation, we will have the 3 worst days of the storm with minimal work activity (Sunday + Father’s Day + additional holiday). The cost for companies will be minimal (1 day), and we will be able to better prevent the heaviest part of the rains (3 days).”
The decree also allows companies to opt for remote work, maintaining the main idea of preventing people from going out into the streets.
“The cost for companies will be minimal (1 day), and we will be able to better prevent the heaviest part of the rains (3 days). Companies that can implement remote work may do so despite the holiday, without having to pay additional compensation, since the goal of the decree is solely to prevent people from having to commute to work and reduce the risk of tragedies,” added Bukele.
Additionally, the Legislative Assembly declared a State of Emergency for 15 days, allowing Civil Protection to carry out mandatory evacuations and use infrastructures as collection centers and temporary shelters. This also enables the Ministry of Public Works to remove debris and repair affected infrastructures.
The Natural Threats and Resources Observatory has been closely monitoring potential Tropical Cyclone One, which is moving over the Gulf of Mexico, possibly intensifying into a tropical storm in the coming hours. This system could prolong the rains in El Salvador, with winds potentially exceeding 40 kilometers per hour, especially along the coast and volcanic mountain range.
In summary, although the rains have decreased in some areas, the country remains on alert and under preventive measures to protect the population. The authorities emphasize the importance of staying informed and following official instructions.