On Sunday, November 8th, after leaving huge damage in Nicaragua, hurricane Ida (category 2) battered El Salvador, with wind speeds of up to 195 kilometers per hour. Ida brought mudslides and heavy floods, which are the main causes of the damage and casualties, mainly in San Salvador and Sin Vicente where some roads are totally blocked by rockfall. Telecom infrastructures have also been damaged by the disaster.

An orange alert has been stated in 5 regions: San Salvador, La Paz, Cuscatlán, La Libertad y San Vicente. Since the beginning of the storm in El Salvador, up to 124 were killed and 7,000 families have been left homeless, with large part of houses entirely inundated. Civil defense services also stated that 60 people are still missing. President Mauricio Funes declared a “state of emergency.”

Following this disastrous situation, a TSF team deployed from its American base in Managua, Nicaragua and arrived to San Salvador today. TSF will provide technical assistance for local and international relief agencies to facilitate aid coordination and enable relief workers to communicate right at the heart of the affected areas. TSF stands to provide vital and communications support to the displaced populations as well. TSF is also ready to send reinforcements if needed, from Managua and from its international headquarter as well.

TSF is monitoring Ida’s progression. Located now in the Gulf of Mexico, the hurricane is threatening American coasts off of Texas and of Louisiana.