Floods test Guatemala’s resources

Rising waters have cut off trade and the movement of goods around the country.

GUATEMALA FLOODS

A summer of heavy rains in Guatemala has caused flooding that is severely testing the nation’s infrastructure.

According to Alejandro Maldonado, the national disaster co-ordinator, 500 bridges in the country have been damaged and 60 wiped out entirely. The country loses money every day as it remains cut off from trade with its neighbours.

Guatemala currently relies on donations from Italy, Japan and Costa Rica to bolster its emergency food supplies, but rains are expected to keep up for another three months.

Al Jazeera’s Kimberly Halkett reports from Amatitlan.

Source: Al Jazeera