The country's security and protection agencies remain on alert as rains and floods increase. | Photo: EFE

Guatemala City, May 31 (RHC)-- Heavy torrential rain has been affecting the Central American country of Guatemala.  Authorities emphasize that fortunately there have been no human losses due rising flood waters.  The rain that fell over the weekend in Guatemala left more than 13,000 people affected, 65 evacuations and at least 20 people were transferred to temporary shelters.

The spokesman for the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (Conred), David de León, reported on Sunday that among the departments most affected by the rains were Guatemala, where the capital is located, Huehuetenango, Quetzaltenango and Totonicapán, in the west of the country.

He also said that 20 people had to be sheltered in the village of Boca del Monte, in the municipality of Villa Canales, south of the Guatemalan capital.  David de León indicated that at least 5,000 people were affected by a landslide in Colomba, Quetzaltenango, blocking vehicular traffic in the area.

In the balance, the official commented that 33 houses suffered slight or moderate damages due to the rains and that in the village of El Boquerón de Cuilco, Huehuetenango, a landslide affected seven houses and 42 people had to evacuate and take refuge with relatives and neighbors.

Last Thursday, 1,500 people were evacuated from their homes due to flooding caused by rains in a town in the Caribbean region of Guatemala, in the northeast of the country.  The authorities emphasize that fortunately there were no human losses, but stress the need for all people to know the recommendations in case of floods.