Nana downgraded to tropical storm over Guatemala

Nana was downgraded to a tropical storm on Thursday as it hit Guatemala, several hours after making landfall in Belize as a hurricane.

“Nana has weakened to a tropical depression, moving westwards,” said David de Leon, the spokesman for Guatemala’s Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED.)

De Leon said winds had reduced to a maximum 55 kilometers per hour.

“Continued weakening is expected, and Nana is expected to degenerate to a remnant low pressure area on Friday,” said the US National Hurricane Center (NHC.)

However, it warned that the storm could produce up to eight inches of rainfall in Guatemala and Mexico.

“These rainfall amounts may produce life threatening flash floods and mudslides.”

CONRED reported trees falling and the collapse of a home in the northeastern town of Morales.

In Belize, the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) reported heavy rainfall and strong winds in Stann Creek district and other regions.

It said there had been electricity blackouts and warned that the storm “could also produce rainfall of 4-8 inches with isolated amounts of 10 inches over southern and central Belize which could lead to flash flooding and possible landslides.”

But the emergency organization urged people not to forget about containment measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, which it described as “the bigger threat.” (AFP)