María Alejandra Trujillo BNN Wed, 22 Nov 2023 12:15 UTC
A devastating landslide in Guatemala's capital has led to the disappearance of at least six people, with thirty affected, sixty evacuated, and five homes severely damaged.
The incident occurred in the Las Calaveras sector, El Gallito colony, near the historic center.
The search for the missing has commenced, led by the Disaster Reduction Coordinator (Conred) and rescuers.
This type of tragedy is not alien to the region; another river overflow at the end of September resulted in ten deaths and disappearances in a nearby sector.
At least three people are dead as search and recovery crews continue to scour through debris from a landslide that impacted properties outside of Wrangell, Alaska, on Monday.
Alaska's Department of Public Safety reported the event occurred along the Zimovia Highway, about 11 miles south of the town of Wrangell in southeast Alaska.
The landslide occurred without warning, and first responders said the ground remains unstable, which could result in additional movement of terrain.
The slide is estimated to be 450 feet wide where it crossed the highway and the Coast Guard said as many as three other people are still missing from the event.
The provincial government has placed Nothern Samar under a state of calamity following the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) members.
Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in a hybrid special session Tuesday afternoon passed and approved the recommendation of the PDRRMC after 18 towns were reportedly inundated.
The resolution states that "70 percent of the province population equivalent to 74,500 families or 370,000 individuals from 24 towns of the province was affected by the calamity."
The streets of Greater Santo Domingo are experiencing considerable urban flooding this Saturday night due to the torrential rains which have affected the country and which have left an unofficial toll of at least three people dead in events that occurred in San José de Ocoa due to the collapse of a bridge and the failure of a wall in the overpass of Máximo Gómez Avenue and 27 de Febrero.
After 9:20 p.m., different streets of the capital have puddles that hinder the circulation and the mobility of vehicles due to the large amount of rain that continues to fall.
Users have reported power outages in several areas, such as Villa Mella, Gascue, Cristo Rey, Invivienda, Mendoza, Hainamosa, Villa Carmen, and Simón Bolivar.
Several areas of Greater Santo Domingo remain in darkness.
At least 21 people have died in the Dominican Republic after heavy rain over the weekend which displaced thousands of residents, officials say.
An investigation has been launched after nine people died when torrential rain caused a highway tunnel wall to collapse in the capital Santo Domingo.
More than 13,000 people were evacuated to secure areas after heavy downpours
The Emergency Operations Center (COE) said rain caused flooded homes, power cuts and damaged bridges and roads.
Three children were among those killed.
Dominican President Luis Abinader called it the "largest rainfall event ever" in the country's history, following torrential storms over the past 48 hours.
The Caribbean nation has been battered by torrential rainfall with footage on social media showing torrents of water flowing through streets and washing away vehicles.
More than 2,500 people were rescued and more than 2,600 homes affected by the storm, the COE said.
It added that 45 communities were without communication as of Sunday afternoon.
The rainfall, which resulted from a tropical depression, is expected to continue across parts of the country into Monday, the US embassy said.
A majority of the nation's 32 provinces remain under red and yellow weather alerts, it added.
President Abinader said classes have been suspended until Wednesday "in order to evaluate the schools that may have been affected" and "guarantee the safety of our young people".
He posted on X, formerly Twitter, that he was "deeply shocked by the loss of life due to the heavy rains" and offered "unconditional support to all those affected by this emergency".
Four of those killed were US nationals, and three were from neighbouring Haiti, AFP news agency reported.
In the face of torrential rains, the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina grapples with severe flooding, leading to the declaration of a state of emergency across 23 municipalities. As the residents reel under the disaster's impact, two casualties and significant disruptions have surfaced, with the city of Rio do Sul bearing the brunt of the catastrophe.
Unprecedented Flooding
Experiencing its fifth flood this year, Rio do Sul is submerged by the overflowing river ItajaÃ-açu. The rising waters have swallowed almost all neighborhoods, compelling the city's residents to seek refuge on rooftops and in 21 makeshift shelters. These sanctuaries currently house over a thousand displaced individuals, emblematic of the scale of the crisis.
Heavy rains caused by low pressure have generated flooding in the municipality of Solidaridad, to such an extent that main streets and avenues do not have the corresponding circulation.
The areas most affected are Misión de las Flores, Misión del Carmen, Los Olivos, Toscana, Guadalupana, Petén and Villas del Sol, where even vehicles and motorcycles have been stranded.
According to what was reported by the state authority, cold front number 9 will extend over the Gulf of Mexico and the southeast of the country, advancing slowly towards the Yucatan Peninsula, however it will be generating heavy rains.
A tropical disturbance moved across the western Caribbean on Friday, knocking out power to thousands in Jamaica and causing two deaths in Haiti as it unleashed landslides and floods before dissipating, authorities said.
Some 14,000 customers lost power in Jamaica after heavy rains downed trees, severed power lines and caused landslides, according to Jamaica Public Service Co. At least 24 people were rescued from floodwaters in the island's southeastern region, the Jamaican Defense Force said.
Heavy rains also hit Haiti, where the Civil Protection Agency told The Associated Press late Friday that two people had died after being swept away by floods in the country's western Grand'Anse region.
Comment: Footage of the flooding in Cuba on November 16:
People across Dubai shared visuals of the heavy rainfall on social media.
The roads of Dubai were waterlogged and flooded after heavy rainfall and thunderstorm hit parts of the United Arab Emirates this morning. Due to extreme weather conditions, people there have been advised to avoid beaches and stay indoors. Traffic and flight operations were also affected in the emirates due the weather.
The Dubai Police sent out an alert at 6.30 in the morning urging people to stay clear of beaches and areas prone to flash floods and exercise caution while driving. The UAE's National Center of Meteorology issued a yellow and orange alert amid the thunderstorm and rain.
People across Dubai shared visuals of the heavy rainfall on social media. In one of the videos shared on X, formerly Twitter, a man is seen rowing a small boat on a flooded road.
In the United Arab Emirates, several days of heavy rain have resulted in flooding in some areas and safety advisories for drivers. Because of the recent rains, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is experiencing significant street flooding.
Authorities issued a warning that erratic weather is expected to strike the nation through Thursday. Social media posts featured videos of cars traversing waterlogged roadways.
Brigadier Ahmed al-Naqbi, the director of the Ras Al-Khaimah Police's Traffic and Patrols Department, pleaded with all drivers on Saturday to drive defensively and to follow all traffic laws and safety regulations.
Videos that the X users uploaded showed rivers quickly developing on formerly dry areas and highways completely submerged in water.
Comment: Update November 20
The BBC reports: Related: Tropical disturbance hits west Caribbean, causing floods in Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba