Tropical Storm Amanda triggered flash floods, landslides and power outages as it barrelled through El Salvador and Guatemala Sunday, killing 14 people, authorities said, warning of further heavy rain to come.

At least 10 people were killed when Tropical Storm Amanda struck El Salvador, unleashing heavy rain across the country including in the city of Ilopango
At least 10 people were killed when Tropical Storm Amanda struck El Salvador, unleashing heavy rain across the country including in the city of Ilopango AFP / Marvin RECINOS

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele declared a 15-day state of emergency to cope with the effects of the storm, which he estimated to have caused $200 million in damage, but which weakened later in the day as it moved into Guatemala.

Flash-floods unleashed by Tropical Storm Amanda tossed cars around like toys in several San Salvador neighborhoods
Flash-floods unleashed by Tropical Storm Amanda tossed cars around like toys in several San Salvador neighborhoods AFP / Yuri CORTEZ

Amanda, the first named storm of the season in the Pacific, unleashed torrents of floodwater that tossed vehicles around like toys and damaged about 200 homes, the head of the Civil Protection Service William Hernandez said.

Landslides and swollen rivers destroyed homes in working-class neighborhoods of El Salvador's capital San Salvador
Landslides and swollen rivers destroyed homes in working-class neighborhoods of El Salvador's capital San Salvador AFP / Yuri CORTEZ

The fatalities were all recorded in El Salvador, Interior Minister Mario Duran said, warning that the death toll could rise.

One person is still missing, senior government official Carolina Recinos added.

Flooding was especially intense in the Santa Lucia neighborhood of Ilopango, El Salvador, where the roof of a vehicle is barely visible in the flood water
Flooding was especially intense in the Santa Lucia neighborhood of Ilopango, El Salvador, where the roof of a vehicle is barely visible in the flood water AFP / MARVIN RECINOS

"We are experiencing an unprecedented situation: one top-level emergency on top of another serious one," San Salvador mayor Ernesto Muyshondt said, referring to the coronavirus pandemic.

Members of a volunteer stretcher corps prepare to carry out a woman who fainted in an area flooded by Tropical Storm Amanda in San Salvador's Modelo neighborhood
Members of a volunteer stretcher corps prepare to carry out a woman who fainted in an area flooded by Tropical Storm Amanda in San Salvador's Modelo neighborhood AFP / Yuri CORTEZ

He added that half of those killed died in the capital, and that 4,200 people had sought refuge in government-run shelters after losing their homes or being forced to leave because they were in high-risk areas.

Tropical storm Amanda, the first named storm of the season in the Pacific, has flooded entire neighbourhoods in El Salvador, destroying houses and forcing dozens of residents to be evacuated.
Tropical storm Amanda, the first named storm of the season in the Pacific, has flooded entire neighbourhoods in El Salvador, destroying houses and forcing dozens of residents to be evacuated. AFPTV / Marvin RECINOS

In some flooded areas, soldiers worked alongside emergency personnel to rescue people.

"We lost everything, we've been left with nowhere to live," said Isidro Gomez, a resident of hard-hit southeastern San Salvador, after a nearby river overflowed and destroyed his home.

Another victim, Mariano Ramos, said that at dawn residents of his San Salvador neighborhood were slammed by an avalanche of mud and water. An elderly man died in the area, officials said.

El Salvador's environment ministry warned residents of the "high probability" of multiple landslides that could damage buildings and injure or kill people.

Nearly 90 percent of El Salvador's 6.6 million people are considered vulnerable to flooding and landslides due to its geography.

In neighboring Guatemala, officials said roads had been blocked by at least five landslides and some flooding was reported, but no evacuations were underway.

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