1949 Eastern Guatemalan floods

1949 Eastern Guatemalan floods
DateOctober 14–16, 1949 (1949-10-14 – 1949-10-16)
TypeFlood
Deaths4,000
Property damage$15,000,000 to $40,000,000 (1949 USD)[nb 1]
$192 million to $512 million (2024 USD)

On October 14–16, 1949, a series of violent and devastating floods killed an estimated 1,000 to 40,000 people in Central America, principally Guatemala. Estimates of the death toll ranged from 1,000 to 40,000, with reliable estimates suggesting 4,000 fatalities, placing the floods as some of the deadliest in recorded history. Estimated monetary losses ranged from $15,000,000 to $40,000,000.

Landslides and road blockages affected communications within the country, and also impacted distribution of foods and other resources. As news of the floodings in Guatemala broke international headlines, Foreign governments pledged aid to the recovery of the country accordingly. The neighbouring countries of The United States and Cuba rushed to provide immediate aid by plane to victims of the disaster.[1][2]


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  1. ^ EM-DAT, The International Disaster Database, Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters-CRED, Supported by the U.S Agency for International Development, USAID. [1]
  2. ^ G.R. Brakenridge, "Global Active Archive of Large Flood Events", Dartmouth Flood Observatory, University of Colorado, http://floodobservatory.colorado.edu/Archives/index.html. [permanent dead link‍]