~Flooding in El Salvador, Central America

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REPORTING FROM SAN SALVADOR -- Heavy rains across Central America have swollen rivers, flooded towns and farmland and killed nearly 100 people. Tens of thousands have been forced to evacuate and seek shelter, and the countries of El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua have declared national disasters.

Hardest hit was El Salvador , where authorities said more rain fell in the last eight days than during the devastating 1998 Hurricane Mitch. The Lempa River washed over its banks and flooded more than 18,000 homes.

"It is a rain unprecedented in the history of El Salvador," Environmental Minister Herman Rosa Chavez said.

An estimated $2 million in Salvadoran coffee crops and production were also lost, La Prensa Graficareported .

Angel Arnaiz Quintana, a priest living in the badly flooded Usulutan region, said damage was extensive, hundreds of people in his community were stranded without food, and disease was spreading. "This was a rush of water that no one could stop," he told The Times by telephone. "Almost a tsunami."

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A Tropical Depression has settled over much of Central America causing massive damage. Much of the coastal areas have been flooded; hundreds of communities and thousands of homes have been destroyed. Over 100,000 have been evacuated. Hundreds of government shelters had been set up but many of these shelters have experienced flooding forcing the many evacuees to seek shelter elsewhere. Many of our churches in these nations have experienced flooding, loss of property and even loss of life.

URGENT NEED IN EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA AND HONDURAS DUE TO MASSIVE FLOODING

The people of Central America need us to put our Compassion in action today! Donate now at www.compassionservices.org by clicking the donate now button or send a check for Central America Flooding to our office at:

3333-1 Rue Royale
Saint Charles, MO 63301

Please contribute to COMPASSION SERVICES INTERNATIONAL today to help the HURTING  people of Central America! Thank you! Let's show them we do care!