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San Salvador – El Salvador’s legislative assembly, with a pro-government majority, declared a 15-day state of emergency on Sunday due to heavy rains over the weekend, with forecasts warning that the situation would worsen.
The parliamentary declaration, voted on in an extraordinary plenary session, approved the red alert and state of emergency decrees issued earlier by President Nayib Bukele’s government due to heavy rains that have killed at least two people and threatened floods and overflowing rivers.
“A state of national emergency is declared throughout the territory of the Republic” and therefore “the protection and preservation of the food security of the population in general and those affected by the storm are urgent measures specifically for the emergency.” “, the decree was adopted unanimously (59 out of 60 votes).
The document also states that “adequate shelter and protection conditions must be created for the population evacuated preventively and for those affected by the loss of their homes.”
It also provides authority to create “conditions that allow for the reconstruction of roads, highways, bridges, homes and other affected areas.”
In addition, the decree states that it is necessary to prevent “negative effects on national production,” primarily those related to agriculture and livestock.
Congress authorizes civil protection agencies to forcibly evacuate people in danger and use “necessary coercive mechanisms.”
According to forecasts from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN), two low pressure areas in Guatemala have a “20% to 10% chance of becoming a cyclone” in the coming days.
The national group said the low pressure spotted northeast of Guatemala will move over the Gulf of Mexico, with a “60 percent chance of cyclone development within seven days, making it very likely to form a tropical depression by the middle of next week.”
“Both systems are conducive for sufficient moisture from the Pacific Ocean to reach our territory to maintain heavy rainfall,” Mahn added.
The rains, concentrated mainly in the south of the country, have killed at least two people, injured one, caused 12 landslides and damaged 14 houses, according to the civil protection department.
The red alert was issued following the latest forecasts from the environment ministry, which warned that “there is a very high probability of urban flooding and flash flooding that could cause minor rivers to overflow into major waterways.” JS
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