Central America hurricane impact

The destruction wrought by hurricanes Eta and Iota is raising fears of a new wave of mass migration from Central America, with the region already facing an economic crisis linked to the coronavirus pandemic


Hurricane Eta: Category 4, maximum winds 225km/h

Hurricane Iota: Category 4, maximum winds 250km/h

Flood-affected areas (as of Nov 24)

GULF OF MEXICO
MEXICO
BELIZE
GUATEMALA
Guatemala City
EL SALVADOR
Tegucigalpa
HONDURAS
Managua
PACIFIC OCEAN
NICARAGUA
COSTA RICA
PANAMA
COLOMBIA
CUBA
Cayman Islands (UK)
JAMAICA
CARIBBEAN SEA

Nov 1-11
Nov 14-18

300km 185 miles

More than 7 million people affected across Central America


GUATEMALA
More than 1.9 million people affected by Eta and Iota, including 1.2 million in need of humanitarian assistance and roughly 230,000 displaced

HONDURAS
At least 3.7 million people affected – over one third of population. Northern agricultural region substantially impacted, raising fears of food shortages

NICARAGUA
Nearly $750 million in damage from both storms – equivalent to more than 5% of GDP. Authorities say Iota was strongest storm ever to hit country


Sources: Associated Press, ReliefWeb, Reuters, Washington Post
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