Heavy and prolonged rainfall has caused the Huiza river in El Salvador to burst its banks, flooding communities close to the Pacific Coast.

Plan communities have been severely affected with houses dragged away by the water and four people confirmed dead including a three-month old baby in Canton Melara, La Libertad.

One nine-year old girl survived being swept away by the water by clinging to a tree for seven hours. Both her parents were killed.

In Cerco de Piedra in Rosario de Mora more than 200 people have been flooded, and the main bridge to the local school has also collapsed.

Families forced to leave their homes have been sheltering in a local school with Plan and local authorities providing emergency assistance.

There has been an outbreak of skin and eye diseases caused by the mud and contaminated water from nearby wells. Children are also unable to go to school as the bridge has collapsed and their school books and supplies were mostly destroyed by the flooding.

Plan's response

So far, Plan staff have delivered 5,000 water packs, 300 mattresses and 300 blankets to 151 families and have assigned three health workers to care for the affected people.

Anti-fungal medication was given to the La Libertad Health Unit and Plan is organising psychosocial support for the families. Staff are also liaising with the Ministry of Education to find a solution for the children unable to attend their school.

Plan-hired engineers are currently assessing the damages to houses and local infrastructure and staff say that 112 houses are inhabitable and 30 were completely destroyed.