Venezuela to help Salvadorian victims

El Salvador: El Salvador's Interior Minister Humberto Centeno, confirmed on Monday that the country will receive aid from Venezuela consisting of food, medicine and other basic products to assist victims of heavy rain.

Centeno told journalists that the Venezuelan aid is expected to arrive in San Salvador in a few hours on board of two planes, as part of international solidarity in the wake of devastation left by tropical storm Ida.

He also referred to the offer of nearly $100,000 by the United States and the International Red Cross contribution of 1,500 packages including essential items.

A meeting between Foreign Minister Hugo Martinez and the diplomatic corps accredited to San Salvador was held to inform on damages and define urgent needs. T The rains caused 108 landslides in several mountainous regions or volcanoes, damaging houses and blocking roads. The departments of San Vicente and San Salvador have reported the highest numbers of deaths and material damage, according to the note. An avalanche of stones and mud from the Chinchontepec volcano buried part of Verapaz locality, with 13 people dead and 50 others missing.

A total of over 1,500 houses have been damaged nationwide, with 168 totally destroyed and nearly 1,400 in very bad conditions. San Salvador, Prensa Latina