Eta zeroes in on Cuba, as Guatemala searches for victims

A strengned Tropical Storm Eta churned toward Cuba and sourn tip of Florida, after leaving dozens de and over 100 missing in Central America which it hit earlier in week as a major hurricane.Cuba braced for Eta even as searchers in Guatemala were still digging for people believed buried by a massive, rain-fueled landslide. Authorities say 15 people are confirmed de and at least 109 are missing in Guatemala, many of m in landslide in San Cristobal Verapaz. U.S. National Hurricane Center issued tropical storm warnings for sourn Florida and Florida Keys, and warnings were issued for central Cuba; parts of sourn Florida and Keys were even put under a hurricane watch.

Hurricane Center said Eta was located about 140 miles (220 kilometers) west-southwest of Camaguey, Cuba, Saturday and was moving rast at 13 mph (20 kph) with winds of 65 mph (100 kph). storm was expected to hit Cuba by early Sunday, and approach Florida Keys and south Florida late Sunday or Monday.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency Saturday for eight counties at end of state as Eta approached, urging residents to stock up on supplies. South Florida started emptying ports and a small number of shelters opened in Miami and Florida Keys for residents in mobile homes and low lying areas.

Miami De County declared a state of emergency Friday night and also warned a flood watch would be in effect through Tuesday night.Furr south in Keys, officials were monitoring storm closely, but h plans yet to evacuate tourists or residents. y urged residents to secure ir boats and encourd visitors to consider altering plans until Eta h passed.

“Residents need to monitor this storm and be prepared for high tropical storm force sustained winds and hurricane strength gusts,” said Shann Wiener, Monroe County Emergency Manment Director.Eta was once a Category 4 hurricane, and authorities from Panama to Mexico were still surveying dams following days of torrential rains during week.

In Guatemala, search teams first h to overcome multiple landslides and deep mud just to reach site where officials have estimated some 150 homes were devastated.In worst-hit vill, Quejá, at least five bodies have been pulled from mud. Indigeus community of about 1,200 residents consisted of simple homes of wood and tin roofs clinging to mountainside

Rescue workers used a helicopter to evacuate survivor Emilio Caal, who said he lost as many as 40 family members and relatives. Caal, 65, suffered a dislocated shoulder when landslide sent rocks, trees and earth hurtling onto home where he was about to sit down to lunch with his wife and grandchildren. Caal said he was blown several yards (meters) by force of slide, and that ne of ors were able to get out.

“My wife is de, my grandchildren are de,” said Caal from a nearby hospital.In neighboring Honduras, 68-year-old María Elena Mejía Guron died when brown waters of Chamelecon river poured into San Pedro Sula’s Planeta neighborhood before dawn Thursday.Mirian Esperanza Nájera Mejía h fled her home in dark with her two children and Mejía, her mor. But while she held tight to her children, current swept away Mejía.

Nájera searched desperately for her mor Friday morning. But Mejía’s body was later recovered.“When flooding started, whole family was leaving house,” said family friend Nery Solis. “Mirian h her two children and suddenly current grabbed m and she wasn’t able to get her mom.”

In sourn Mexico, across border from Guatemala, 20 people died as heavy rains attributed to Eta caused mudslides and swelled streams and rivers, according to Chiapas state civil defense official Elías Morales Rodríguez. worst incident in Mexico occurred in mountain township of Chenalho, where 10 people were swept away by a rain-swollen stream; ir bodies were later found downstream.

Flooding in neighboring state of Tabasco was so b that President Andrés Manuel López Obror cut short a trip to western Mexico and was flying to Tabasco, his home state, to oversee relief efforts.Hurricane Eta’s arrival in rast Nicaragua Tuesday followed days of drenching rain as it crawled toward shore. Its slow, meandering path rth through Honduras pushed rivers over ir banks.

(Im Credit: AP) 

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