Tropical storm Julia kills 19 in Central America

Former Hurricane Julia has killed at least 19 people in Central America as it continues to pound the region with torrential rains. 

While no longer considered a hurricane, storm Julia has been drenching Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras with heavy rains on Monday.   

Guatemala’s disaster prevention agency said at least five people died from a landslide that buried a house in Alta Verapaz province. 

In El Salvador, two people in the town of Guatajiagua died after the heavy rains caused a wall in their home to collapse. Similarly, five soldiers died in the town of Comasagua after they sought refuge in a house but a wall collapsed on top of them. 

Additionally, one man was swept away by heavy currents, while another died from a tree that fell on him.

In Honduras, a woman died after she was swept away by currents and three others died after their boat capsized in the northern part of the country. 

Former Hurricane Julia hit Nicaragua early on Sunday with maximum winds of 85 mph (140 kph). After passing through the country’s mountainous area and made its way to the Pacific, Julia was downgraded to a tropical storm. 

On Monday, Julia plowed through Guatemala with heavy rains and winds of 30 mph (45 kph). The storm is expected to dissipate as it makes its way through Guatemala to Mexico. 

Julia has caused mudslides and floods throughout Central America. El Salvador declared a state of emergency after the riverbanks overflooded. In Guatemala, more than 1,300 people had to abandon their homes due to rising water levels. More than 9,200 people sought refuge in shelters in Honduras.