Hurricane Eta leaves Central America reeling

By Maia Irvin 

On Thursday, the Central American death toll from Hurrican Eta rose to 13 after it left countries from Panama to Guatemala with fatal flooding, landslides and mudslides, according to news sources. 

The Associated Press reported Eta initially hit Nicaragua on Tuesday as a Category 4 Hurricane. The hurricane had 140 mph winds when it hit, according to The Washington Post. 

The National Hurricane Center called the storm life-threatening, according to the Post 

"This rainfall will lead to catastrophic, life-threatening flash flooding and river flooding," the Hurricane Center wrote, the Post reported. This flooding led to landslides and mudslides that resulted in the deaths of several people, the AP reported. 

As of Thursday, four people have died in Guatemala, seven in Honduras and two in Nicaragua, the AP reported

Authorities in Guatemala reported that about 100 homes were flooded, the AP reported. Many people fled their homes with nothing but the clothes on their backs, according to the AP. 

"The situation is worrisome, a lot of help is needed," Javier Pittí, the major of Tierras Altas in Panama, said, the AP reported. 

The Post reported growing concern in Cuba and southeastern U.S. as Eta could hit these areas sometime next week. 

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