Thursday Oct-13-11  10:45 A.M.

Although Tropical Depression 12-E has weakened since early this morning to turn into a low-pressure system, rainfall continues in almost the whole country. The Institute for Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology, and Hydrology of Guatemala –INSIVUMEH- reports that heavy rains have been registered up to 305 millimeters in 24 hours, so the soil is saturated and river levels are on the rise, while basins are vulnerable. This has started to cause flooding in urban as well as rural areas. Large-scale landslides are imminent in mountainous regions.

According to Tropical Weather and Hurricane Expert, Dan Kottlowski,  “There is the potential of a couple more feet of rain (600 millimeters) between October 13 and 23” (www.accuweather.com).  According to AccuWeather analysts, the current low-pressure system has stuck in the region and will continue generating storms and new tropical systems in the second half of October, with the same tropical storm-pattern all over Central America.

The Ministry of Communication, Infrastructure, and Housing (MICIVI), through the Road Maintenance Unit (COVIAL), Protection and Road Safety Bureau (PROVIAL), and other institutions make up the National Coordination for Disaster Reduction (CONRED). They are working in more than 30 points on main roads of the country to enable road communication.

Our Agricultural Technical Department still hasn´t been able to issue their damage report. They state that collection of harvested product is almost impossible due to limited access to the field and collection centers, and from these centers to the plant. We continue to monitor operations at ports of loading. Puerto Quetzal (in the Pacific Coast) is working, even though its installations are flooded. Shipping companies will be working, as long as weather allows it. We will be updating this information shortly.