The authorities of El Salvador have ordered an orange alert (level three out of four) this Sunday for the entire coast of the Pacific Ocean and in the capital, due to the arrival of the tropical depression E-19 in two days.
The orange alert was triggered because “the risk level increases to a 75% chance of causing serious damage,” civil protection reported.
Tropical depression E-19 is currently located in the Pacific Ocean with a speed of 4 km/h and a trajectory that is expected to hit the coast of El Salvador between Monday and Tuesday.
According to the US National Hurricane Center, the Pacific coasts of Guatemala and Nicaragua could also be affected.
“Heavy rainfall from the tropical depression will lead to rapid flooding in urban areas and landslides in high-altitude areas of the Pacific coast of Central America,” the forecasts said.
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“The low pressure system is expected to strengthen as it approaches Guatemala and El Salvador,” and they are not ruling out issuing warnings of a “tropical storm or hurricane,” they added from the United States National Hurricane Center.
El Salvador’s Ministry of Education ordered the suspension of “academic activities” both on the coast and in the greater capital area.
The emergency systems have also been made aware of the need for possible measures and the preparation of emergency shelters, the civil protection agency said.
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“Small, industrial and sport fishing, as well as recreational activities in rivers, beaches and lakes, will be temporarily suspended due to the combination of this system with the presence of spring tides,” said Environment Minister Fernando López.
Sustained wind speeds of 55 km/h are expected, the minister added.
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