Map: Subnational impact in Central America and the Caribbean

Between 1 and 18 November 2020, the Central American and Caribbean region was affected by two natural hazards, the first being hurricane Eta, which reached Category 4 the second highest hurricane classification, followed by hurricane Iota, which had a Category 5 impact, the highest classification. Both caused strong impacts in the region, especially in 10 countries including Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica and other Caribbean islands, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama leaving behind more than 7 million people affected as of 2 December 2020.

This map identifies affected areas in the first administrative subdivision (Departments, States, Provinces or Districts) in each of the countries in the Central American and Caribbean region that were affected by both hurricanes, Eta and Iota.

In Honduras, as of 2 December, more than 4 million people had been affected by hurricanes Eta and Iota. This included 562,274 people evacuated and 123,874 people rescued. A total of 95,000 people were staying in shelters. The most affected departments were Colón, Copán, Cortés, Olancho, Santa Bárbara and Yoro. In Guatemala, as of 2 December, 2,414,190 people had been affected. A total of 308,834 were displaced, with 30,602 staying in official shelters and a further 278,232 staying in unofficial shelters. The most affected departments were Alta Verapaz, Huehuetenango, Izabal, Peten, Quiche and Zacapa. In Nicaragua, as of 26 November, 655,000 people were reported affected with 130,651 staying in shelters. In El Salvador, 800 displaced persons are in shelters. In Colombia, as of 30 November, 297,106 people had been affected across 13 departments. In Mexico, as of 26 November, 297,000 people had been affected and as of 13 November 308 temporary shelters hosting 17,139 people had been identified across the states of Chiapas, Tabasco and Veracruz. In Belize, as of 24 November, 288 people had been displaced to 14 shelters across the country, mainly concentrated in the districts of Belize Rural, Cayo and Orange Walk. In Costa Rica, as of 26 November, 325,000 people had been affected with 2,056 staying in shelters. In Panama, as of 26 November, 5,000 people had been affected with 3,483 staying in shelters.