Central America

Alert on swollen rivers due to rains from storm Pilar in Guatemala

Photo: @NHC_Pacific

October 31 |

The National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology of Guatemala (Insivumeh) warned Monday that the proximity of tropical storm Pilar in the Pacific Ocean, will increase cloudiness and the risk of rainfall in different areas of the Central American country, so that several rivers could increase their flow.

Among the rivers most likely to overflow are Cahabón, Matanzas and Polochic, located in the department of Alta Verapaz; and in La Pasión (Sayaxché), La Pasión (Las Cruces) and Usumacinta, in Petén, so the agency urged residents to take precautions.

According to bulletin number seven of this day, Insivumeh continues monitoring the storm Pilar, which is south of the Guatemalan Pacific coast with gusts of 100 kilometers per hour and moves towards the northwest at nine kilometers per hour.

“This storm has entered the orange alert zone (orange area) of the tropical cyclone operational plan and continues with slow movement towards the northeast, in its center maintains winds with speeds of up to 85 kilometers per hour so it is expected to approach our country during the following hours, however its effects will be indirect,” said the Insivumeh bulletin.

20250301_vacunacion_vph-728x90

20241211_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

20231124_etesal_728x90_1

20230601_agenda_primera_infancia_728X90

domfuturo_netview-728x90

20240604_dom_728x90

CEL

For Monday night, partial clouds and intermittent rains or drizzle are forecast, especially in regions from the south to the center of the country.

“In Bocacosta and Pacific there could be heavy rains accompanied by electrical activity in the late afternoon. A light to moderate northeast wind will prevail in the Central Highlands and Eastern Valleys”, the meteorological entity indicates.

Pilar is the sixteenth named cyclone of the season, and is also located near the coasts of Mexico and El Salvador, so it is also being monitored by both nations.

Related Topics:Central America storm Pilar

Up Next

Yellow Alert Declared in Honduras due to Tropical Storm’s Advance

Don't Miss

Nayib Bukele registers to run in 2024 election

20250301_vacunacion_vph-300x250

20241211_mh_noexigencia_dui_300x250

20231124_etesal_300x250_1

20230601_agenda_primera_infancia_300X250

MARN1

Central America

Panama’s former president Martinelli claims political enemies tried to kill him

Former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli claimed on Friday that his political enemies intended to kill him once he departed for Nicaragua. Martinelli has been sheltering in Nicaragua’s embassy in Panama City for over a year to evade a money laundering conviction.

“They wanted to kill me,” Martinelli stated in a social media post, without specifying who he was referring to. His remarks came after the safe-conduct pass granted by the Panamanian government for his travel to Managua expired at midnight on Thursday.

In a statement, Panama’s Foreign Ministry announced that the permit had expired without Nicaragua officially agreeing to receive the former president. According to Martinelli, Nicaraguan authorities reconsidered the transfer, suspecting it was an “ambush” or a “trap.”

“It was a vile trap they were trying to set up. On one hand, they pretended to offer me a way out, but on the other, they wanted to ruin me by inventing all sorts of accusations,” Martinelli added, thanking Nicaragua and confirming that he will remain in asylum.

Central America

Guatemalan police officer killed in mob riots over baby kidnapping

A police officer was killed during riots provoked by an enraged mob in a Guatemalan town following the kidnapping of a baby, the government reported on Wednesday.

The incidents began on Tuesday night and continued into the early hours of Wednesday in the town of San Vicente Pacaya, about 25 km south of the capital, according to Minister of the Interior Francisco Jiménez.

“There was an incident in San Vicente Pacaya where, unfortunately, a police officer died after being struck in the head with a stone. He passed away this morning,” Jiménez said in a press conference.

He explained that the unrest erupted following the arrest of two suspects in connection with the kidnapping of “a baby just a few months old,” including a woman with a criminal record.

Sports

Venezuela investigates 18 baseball players seeking asylum in Spain

Maduro calls on military to be alert to alleged plan by "fascist groups"

The Venezuelan government announced on Wednesday that it is investigating the case of 18 baseball players who are “under the supervision of Spanish authorities” after seeking protection.

In a statement, Venezuelan authorities said they are working to determine whether this case involves “a possible human trafficking scheme,” though they have not provided any evidence of such a crime.

The Venezuelan government emphasized its commitment to protecting the country’s athletes while also denouncing the use of international legal frameworks by certain governments allegedly seeking to discredit the administration.

CNN reached out to Spain’s National Police for a response to Venezuela’s claims. According to Spanish authorities, the 18 young athletes—including two minors—arrived in Spain to participate in a series of matches but had already planned to apply for asylum. Authorities confirmed on Tuesday that they had begun interviewing the players to process their international protection requests.

The team’s coach addressed the situation in a TikTok video, refuting local media reports that he had abandoned the athletes. He asserted that the players chose to remain in Barcelona to secure the necessary permits to sign with other teams and that their decision was unrelated to any political motivations.