Guatemala Closes Schools
at Risk
Guatemalan Education
Ministry closed 52
schools in high risk
zones, after intensive
rains and landslides
that led to decree 25
municipalities in state
of calamity. Those
centers are in the
western Zacapa
department and half of
them are in La Union
town, where landslides
killed 12 people and
obliged authorities to
evacuate inhabitants.
Education Minister Ana
Ordoñez told press that
550 first, second and
third grade children
will be affected, but
she assured that her
ministry is trying to
find the best options,
so they can continue
studying.
Teaching in shelters, to
which people have been
evacuated or resettling
the students affected in
educational schools in
Camotan or Jocotan
municipalities, to favor
that they can continue
the present school year,
are among the choices
found so far.
The government requested
help not only from
national entities, but
also from the
international community
to face up to the
difficult situation in
several regions, due to
rains, landslides and
river overflows.
Rains have damaged
almost all the country,
but the most affected
areas are in Zacapa,
Izabal, Chiquimula,
Sacatepequez,
Chimaltenango,
Guatemala, San Marcos,
Huehuetenango,
Suchitepequez and Peten
departments. |
