2009 El Salvador floods and mudslides
Encyclopedia
The 2009 El Salvador floods and mudslides were extreme weather
events that killed 199 people with others 76 missing and left $239 million in damages in El Salvador
, some unofficial sources have the death toll up to 275 people.
The flooding was caused by an unnamed weak low pressure system from the Pacific, not Hurricane Ida
which had passed earlier. Although Hurricane Ida produced moderate rainfall on November 6 and 7.
made landfall in Nicaragua and the low pressure in the Pacific began a northwest movement due to an indirect effect of Hurricane Ida. The alert systems were activated in El Salvador because of the proximity of the systems. Light to moderate rains began on November 6 and continued through the morning of November 7. Hurricane Ida reemerged in the Caribbean ocean and began to move towards the Gulf of Mexico and the low pressure system in the Pacific moved closer to the coasts of El Salvador and Guatemala. Later in the night of November 7 the heaviest rains were registered with a peak of 355 mm of accumulated rain in just 24 hours. The total amount of rainfall from November 6 to November 9 reached 483 mm in San Vicente and between 75 mm and 350 mm in other parts of the country.
The town of Verapaz
was heavily affected by a landslide from the Chichontepec volcano
which damaged 300 homes becoming the symbol of the tragedy.
55 bridges suffered damage or collapsed and 132 roads were blocked by landslides that cut the transport links to the interior of the country. Also the 103,000 people were left without power. The total damage was calculated in $239 million. The United Nations World Food Programme has reported that the floods had washed entire harvests and up to 10,000 people were in need of food assistance.
Mauricio Funes
announced the increased toll on national radio. He said the damage was "incalculable". He promised aid while threatening any official who misappropriated the aid with prosecution. The country declared three days of national mourning for the dead.
Extreme weather
Extreme weather includes weather phenomena that are at the extremes of the historical distribution, especially severe or unseasonal weather. The most commonly used definition of extreme weather is based on an event's climatological distribution. Extreme weather occurs only 5% or less of the time...
events that killed 199 people with others 76 missing and left $239 million in damages in El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
, some unofficial sources have the death toll up to 275 people.
The flooding was caused by an unnamed weak low pressure system from the Pacific, not Hurricane Ida
Hurricane Ida (2009)
Hurricane Ida was the strongest landfalling tropical cyclone during the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season, crossing the coastline of Nicaragua with winds of 80 mph . The remnants of the storm became a powerful nor'easter that caused widespread damage along coastal areas of the Mid-Atlantic States...
which had passed earlier. Although Hurricane Ida produced moderate rainfall on November 6 and 7.
Meteorological history
In early November an area of low pressure formed in the Pacific ocean west of Central America. By November 5 Hurricane IdaHurricane Ida (2009)
Hurricane Ida was the strongest landfalling tropical cyclone during the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season, crossing the coastline of Nicaragua with winds of 80 mph . The remnants of the storm became a powerful nor'easter that caused widespread damage along coastal areas of the Mid-Atlantic States...
made landfall in Nicaragua and the low pressure in the Pacific began a northwest movement due to an indirect effect of Hurricane Ida. The alert systems were activated in El Salvador because of the proximity of the systems. Light to moderate rains began on November 6 and continued through the morning of November 7. Hurricane Ida reemerged in the Caribbean ocean and began to move towards the Gulf of Mexico and the low pressure system in the Pacific moved closer to the coasts of El Salvador and Guatemala. Later in the night of November 7 the heaviest rains were registered with a peak of 355 mm of accumulated rain in just 24 hours. The total amount of rainfall from November 6 to November 9 reached 483 mm in San Vicente and between 75 mm and 350 mm in other parts of the country.
Damage
Officially 199 people were killed by the floods and landslides and 15,000 others were displaced. At least 2,350 homes were destroyed or damaged. The most affected departments were La Libertad, San Salvador, San Vicente, Cuscatlan and La Paz. Several rivers in those five departments rose above flood levels.The town of Verapaz
Verapaz
Verapaz is a municipality in the San Vincente department of El Salvador. Verapaz means 'true peace' . It has been the site of two recent natural disasters. An earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale on the 13 February 2001 and the 2009 Salvador floods and mudslides in November 2009.-References:...
was heavily affected by a landslide from the Chichontepec volcano
San Vicente (volcano)
San Vicente is a stratovolcano in central El Salvador. It is located next to the town of San Vicente and is the second highest volcano in El Salvador. In the indigenous language Nahuat, Chichontepec means the mountain of the two breasts, because its double summit resembles a woman's bosom...
which damaged 300 homes becoming the symbol of the tragedy.
55 bridges suffered damage or collapsed and 132 roads were blocked by landslides that cut the transport links to the interior of the country. Also the 103,000 people were left without power. The total damage was calculated in $239 million. The United Nations World Food Programme has reported that the floods had washed entire harvests and up to 10,000 people were in need of food assistance.
Response
PresidentPresident of El Salvador
This page contains a list of Presidents of El Salvador.-Heads of State of El Salvador within the Federal Republic of Central America :*Pedro Barriere : 21 September 1821 - 28 November 1821*José Matías Delgado : 28 Nov 1821 - 9 February 1823...
Mauricio Funes
Mauricio Funes
Carlos Mauricio Funes Cartagena is the President of El Salvador. He won the 2009 presidential election as the candidate of the left-wing Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front political party and took office on 1 June 2009.-Biography:Funes is married to Dr. Vanada Pignado, who was involved in...
announced the increased toll on national radio. He said the damage was "incalculable". He promised aid while threatening any official who misappropriated the aid with prosecution. The country declared three days of national mourning for the dead.