Urgent Financial Help Needed In Guatemala: State Of Emergency Declared

Volcano eruption and tropical storm reek havoc throughout Central America

By Greg Szymanski, JD
June 1, 2010

Immediate help is needed in Guatemala after a volcano near Guatemala City erupted and Tropical Storm Agatha ripped through the country simultaneously.

Officials report more than 110,000 Guatemalens have been evacuated due to the Pacaya Volcano eruption Thursday and the tropical storm that followed on Friday.

Three deaths and 65 injuries were directly related to the volcano, including the death of a CNN Guatemalen television correspondent.

Dwight Poage, founder of Mayan Familes Relief Group in Lake Atitlan, said: “Mayan Families has had to evacuate our location and move to another safe place here in Panajachel.

“We lost an exterior bathroom and bedroom to the river. The river went wild! Our house and the Mayan Families offices are still standing. We were just a few feet away from a raging wild river, the Rio San Francisco.

“All of the Guatemalan highlands are hurting! Numerous people lost everything! We are up and running and we have been out today giving out clothing, food, supplies and donations! Any help is greatly needed right now.”

Juan Skinner, a top Guatemalen environmentalist from the Lake Atitlan region, said:

“Just made it from El Salvador, where the storm also hit quite hard. Tomorrow I will try to get back to the lake. I hope the roads are being cleared from landslides. We are getting a disaster every five years. That is way too much way. More tomorrow if I make it.”

Skinner’s message was sent two days ago and he has not checked in, indicating the roads between Antigua and Lake Atitlan may be impassable.
Skinner added urgent disaster relief is again needed in Guatemala, a statement he makes far too often for his liking.

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