Hurricane Eta unleashed torrential rains and catastrophic flooding on Central America, killing at least 21 people and turning streets into rivers.
Families waded through flooded streets of the northern Honduran city of San Pedro Sula, while cars sat almost submerged in parts of the central Guatemalan city of San Pedro Carcha, television footage and images posted on social media showed.
Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez told HCH television: “The situation is serious, it’s shocking and needs to be dealt with professionally, fast.”
He said: Damage and destruction had spread across the vast majority of Honduras and speedboats and helicopters would be sent to rescue people in inaccessible areas.
By Thursday, authorities confirmed at least five deaths in Guatemala and seven in Honduras. Media in Nicaragua also reported two miners had died in a mudslide.
