PURULHA: A strengthening Tropical Storm Eta made landfall in Cuba on Sunday and was aimed at the southern tip of Florida, where a hurricane warning was posted for a storm that has left dozens dead and over 100 missing in Central America, where it hit last week as a major hurricane.

The US National Hurricane Center in Miami said the storm could become a hurricane before reaching the Florida Keys and it declared hurricane and storm surge warnings for the Keys from Ocean Reef to the Dry Tortugas, including Florida Bay, with the storm expected to reach that area by Monday night or early Tuesday.

The storm had maximum sustained winds of 100 kph on Sunday morning and it was centered over Cuba about 380 kilo meters south southeast of Miami. It was moving toward the north at 22 kph.

Eta hit Cuba even as searchers in Guatemala were still digging for people believed buried by a massive, rain-fueled landslide.

Authorities said at least 15 were dead and 109 were missing in Guatemala, many of them in the landslide in San Cristobal Verapaz.

Pope Francis on Sunday spoke about the population of Central America, hit by a violent hurricane, which has caused many victims and huge damage, worsened as well by the already difficult situation due to the pandemic. Speaking to faithful gathered in St.

Peters Square, Francis prayed that the Lord welcome the deceased, comfort their families and sustain all those so tried, as well as all those who are doing their best to help them.

In Florida, Gov. Ron De Santis declared a state of emergency on Saturday for eight counties at the end of the state as Eta approached, urging residents to stock up on supplies.

South Florida started emptying ports and a small number of shelters opened in Miami and the Florida Keys for residents in mobile homes and low lying areas.

Miami-Dade County declared a state of emergency on Friday night and also warned a flood watch would be in effect through Tuesday night.

Further south in the Keys, officials were monitoring the storm closely, but had no plans yet to evacuate tourists or residents.

They urged residents to secure their boats and encouraged visitors to consider altering plans until Eta had passed.

Eta initially hit Nicaragua as a Category 4 hurricane, and authorities from Panama to Mexico were still surveying the damages following days of torrential rains during the week.

In Guatemala, search teams first had to overcome multiple landslides and deep mud just to reach the site where officials have estimated some 150 homes were devastated.

In the worst-hit village, Quej, at least five bodies have been pulled from the mud. The Indigenous community of about 1,200 residents consisted of simple homes of wood and tin roofs clinging to the mountainside.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2020