The effects of Tropical Storm Agatha in Guatemala were some of the worst from a tropical cyclone in the country on record, which included 182 deaths and nearly a billion dollars in damage. The storm rapidly formed and make landfall as a weak tropical storm on May 29, however, destructive floods contributed to mudslides and sinkholes affected the country until June 1, causing extensive damage.
Background
Tropical Storm Agatha was first identified as a trough of low pressure of the western coast of Costa Rica on May 24, 2010. Over several days, the system gradually developed deep convection around its center and was declared a tropical depression on May 29. Within hours, the depression intensified into a tropical storm and was given the name Agatha. Later that day, the system intensified slightly before making landfall near the Mexico–Guatemala border with winds of 45 mph (75 km/h). Once over land, the system began to weaken as convection waned. By the morning of May 30, the center of Agatha moved over the highest terrain in Central America, resulting in the dissipation of the low-level circulation. At this time, the National Hurricane Center ceased advisories on the system but warned that its remnants would continue to produce torrential rains throughout the region.
On May 27, two days before Agatha became a tropical depression, the Pacaya volcano, located about south of Guatemala City, erupted, killing at least one person and blanketing nearby areas with layers of ash. The eruption prompted officials to shut down the country's international airport for at least five days. Upon the formation of Agatha, people feared that excessive rainfall from the storm could exaggerate the situation and trigger lahars.
Preparations
Upon the formation of Tropical Depression One-E on May 29, the Government of Guatemala declared a tropical storm warning for its entire Pacific coastline. Due to the system's proximity to land, tropical storm force winds were expected to reach the coast by the evening hours, making outdoor preparations difficult. Additionally, the depression's slow movement was expected to cause enormous rainfall totals, exceeding in some areas. This rain was expected to produce large-scale, life-threatening flash flooding and landslides across Guatemala, El Salvador and southeastern Mexico. Once the system intensified into Tropical Storm Agatha, the National Hurricane Center expected areas to the south and east of the landfall location to experience storm surge along with destructive waves. By the late morning of May 29, Guatemalan officials placed all hospitals on high alert and declared a state of calamity. President Álvaro Colom also began to use some of the $85 million allocated as emergency funds by the World Bank. After the storm moved over land and weakened to a tropical depression, the tropical storm warnings along the coast were discontinued.
Impact
As of June 15, the Government of Guatemala confirmed that 165 people died as a result of Agatha and 113 others were missing. Initially, the death toll was reported to be 174; however, this was revised after the government determined it had counted some persons twice. In terms of infrastructural damage, more than 18,700 were destroyed throughout the country and damage was likely to exceed $1 billion. According to Reuters, more than 100,000 homes were destroyed by the storm, a significantly higher number than stated in other reports. Due to the extensive damage to Guatemala's coffee farms, the crop was expected to be reduced by 3%.
Following the catastrophic damage caused by Agatha, Guatemalan officials began evacuating numerous residents from areas at-risk from flooding and landslides. By May 31, an estimated 150,000 people were relocated, of which 36,000 had been placed in shelters. The number of evacuees gradually rose throughout the following weeks, with a total of 162,857 people having been evacuated.
In Guatemala City, poor drainage in combination with torrential rainfall led to the formation of a massive sinkhole in the middle of a four-way intersection. The geologic formation appeared suddenly and two structures, a three story building and a home, fell into it. Initial reports stated that a security guard died after falling into the hole; however, Guatemalan officials deny this claim.
Across the country, 1,283 schools were badly damaged or destroyed, leading to concerns of when students could actually resume classes.