Emergency in Guatemala due to extreme rains leaves at least 22 dead and thousands affected

Published at: 16/10/2026 11:40 AM

The National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED) confirmed a tragic toll of at least 22 people dead, one missing and more than 213 thousand citizens affected during the current winter season in Guatemala, causing the collapse of infrastructure and the mass evacuation of families in 12 of the country's 22 departments.

According to information highlighted in Telesur, the Institute of Meteorology (INSIVUMEH) warned that soil saturation exceeded 90% of their absorption capacity, a phenomenon derived from the climate transition after the passage of El Niño, which triggered a record of 626 floods and destructive landslides in unstable terrain.

The devastating impact of rainfall has so far left four bridges destroyed, 668 road sections cracked or collapsed and more than 13,000 homes severely damaged, consolidating the Alta Verapaz region as the area hardest hit by the environmental crisis.

The consequences of this extreme weather event highlight the growing vulnerability of countries in the Global South to the onslaught of the climate crisis, making it urgent to deploy state aid and give priority attention to historically underserved communities.

Mazo News Team