Guatemala Declares State of Calamity Due to Forest Fires
(CNN Spanish) – The Council of Ministers of Guatemala declared a state of calamity throughout the country for 30 days on Wednesday, as a result of the effects caused by the fires, President Bernardo Arévalo announced at a press conference.
The measure aims to provide all necessary resources to control the fires and prevent their effects, which are posing a health risk due to poor air quality. The National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (Conred) has reported that most of the fires were intentionally set, leading to the filing of complaints for further investigation.
As of Monday, Conred reported 44 active forest fires being attended to by 1,300 agents, with 80% of them being caused by human activity, including areas near the Agua and Tajumulco volcanoes, the AMSA landfill, and the Laguna del Tigre National Park.
President Arévalo stated that the declaration of calamity will enable the purchase of necessary supplies for the firefighting brigades and the request for international assistance, specifically for aircraft to help extinguish the fires promptly.
Guatemala’s Ministry of Health has advised the public to stay indoors and wear masks when going outside, especially in areas near active fires. They have highlighted the importance of protecting vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and individuals with immune or chronic health conditions.
In response to the environmental conditions, classes have been suspended in the departments of Guatemala, Escuintla, and Sacatepéquez, the most densely populated areas in the country. Education authorities are developing distance learning programs in case the suspension of classes needs to be extended.