Rains Trigger State of Emergency in Nicaragua
Managua
- With more rain forecast for the Pacific, central, and western
regions of Nicaragua, President Daniel Ortega declared a state of
national emergency in recent hours to cope with the immediate needs of
thousands of people affected, and to arrange additional resources to
mitigate and control the effects of the intense rains in the country.
Since
Oct. 10, several Nicaraguan localities, particularly in the Pacific and
northern regions, have reported severe environmental and economic
damage, as well as human losses.
According to official estimates,
133,858 people have been affected nationwide, with the greatest
devastating effects in the departments of Chinandega, Leon, Managua,
Esteli, Nueva Segovia and Madriz, Carazo, Rivas, Masaya, Granada, and
Rivas.
Following the president's directions, the ministries and
state-run entities must act immediately to repair the damage caused to
communications, houses and infrastructure works such as electricity
networks and aqueducts.
He also ordered to prioritize the
restoration of basic services, and maintain in operation the Committees
for Prevention, Mitigation and Attention to Disasters to guarantee
adequate attention to the evacuees at more than 90 shelters.
Though
rains have eased up in the latest hours, the Nicaraguan president
called on the population to remain alert, because the most important
thing is to preserve human lives.
