Central America

El Salvador affected by heavy rains

Photo: @PROCIVILSV

June 23 |

Intense rains associated with the passage of a tropical wave caused havoc on Thursday in San Salvador, capital of El Salvador, less than 24 hours before the opening of the XXIV Central American and Caribbean Games.

The rains arrived in the afternoon causing downed trees, power lines and floods in several areas of the country. In the capital, vehicular traffic collapsed in all directions.

Traffic was almost at a standstill from the Plaza de la Cancillería, venue of the boxing competition, to the Zona Rosa, in the San Benito neighborhood, and it took more than an hour to travel just three or four kilometers due to the congestion caused by the waters.

The civil protection authorities and tactical teams joined forces with other institutions to attend to the emergencies caused by the rains of the last hours.

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The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources informed of the setback caused by the passage of the tropical wave through Central American territory.

Floods in San Salvador affected Colonia Médica, the surroundings of the capital’s Government Center, 25 Avenida Sur, a side of Cuscatlán Park and the vicinity of the Jorge González National Stadium, place where the Central Caribbean Games will be inaugurated.

Among the areas affected by the floods is the Modelo neighborhood, where rescue workers rescued at least 30 people trapped inside their vehicles.

On this day, boxing began and the table tennis and beach volleyball matches continued.

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Central America

Panama grants Martinelli 72-hour extension to travel to Nicaragua

On Monday (March 31, 2025), Panama extended the safe-conduct pass for former President Ricardo Martinelli by three more days to allow him to travel to Nicaragua, after the Central American country refused to receive him due to concerns over an alleged Interpol arrest warrant.

“The National Government has decided to extend the validity of the safe-conduct pass for an additional seventy-two (72) hours, until the end of Thursday, April 3, 2025,” the Panamanian Foreign Ministry stated in a communiqué. The original permit was set to expire Monday at midnight (05:00 GMT on Tuesday).

The Foreign Ministry explained that regarding the ‘humanitarian asylum’ granted to Martinelli last Thursday, which was set to expire Monday at midnight, the Nicaraguan government requested clarifications about an apparent Interpol alert, which had already been dismissed as inadmissible.

Additionally, the Panamanian Supreme Court of Justice, as the highest authority of the Judicial Branch, stated on Monday that it had “no objections” to granting asylum and a safe-conduct to Martinelli, as it falls under the jurisdiction of the Executive Branch.

Central America

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary urges Mexico to strengthen Guatemala border

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revealed on Monday that during last week’s meeting with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, she urged Mexico to reinforce its border with Guatemala and share biometric datawith U.S. authorities.

“I gave her a list of things that President Trump would love to see. And it was exceptional. It was supposed to be a half-hour meeting, but we talked for nearly two hours. It was very productive,” Noem said in an interview with Fox News.

The Homeland Security Secretary requested that Sheinbaum, who has already deployed 10,000 National Guard troopsalong Mexico’s northern border with the U.S., also secure Mexico’s southern border with Guatemala.

Noem added that she also asked the Mexican president to share biometric data with the U.S., to which Sheinbaum responded that she was “willing to discuss it,” although she acknowledged that it could be a controversial issue in her country.

Central America

Panama police clarifies that Interpol alert for Martinelli is still pending

Panama’s National Police clarified on Sunday that an Interpol alert request for former President Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014) is still under review and has yet to be confirmed. Martinelli was granted a safe-conduct pass last Thursday to leave the Nicaraguan embassy, where he has been seeking asylum since February 2024 after being convicted of corruption.

“The National Police clarifies that there is currently an active process for an Interpol alert, requested by Judge Baloisa Marquínez, against former President Ricardo Martinelli. This request must be analyzed by Interpol’s General Secretariat (headquartered in France) for approval or rejection. If approved, it will be notified to member countries,” the police stated in a press release sent to EFE.

According to the statement, “at the moment, it remains an ongoing procedure, and former President Martinelli does not have a confirmed alert.”

The announcement came hours after National Police Director Jaime Fernández had told the press that an “Interpol alert” for Martinelli had been received on Friday.