El Salvador reports 16 deaths during August vacation period

El Salvador’s civil protection agency reported a total of 16 deaths during the first five days of the 2026 August vacation period (August 1‑5). Two people drowned – one in a maritime accident at the El Bajón inlet in Puerto El Triunfo, Usulután, and another in a pool – while 14 were killed in traffic crashes. The agencies carried out 44 water rescues, 37 of them deep rescues, and responded to 259 traffic accidents, down from 315 a year earlier, but with 231 injuries. Police detained 48 drivers for dangerous conduct. Fire services recorded 34 incidents, up from 20 the previous year, including a rise in brush fires from four to 13. The director of Protección Civil, Luis Alonso Amaya, and the fire chief, Baltazar Solano, highlighted the continued deployment of more than 100 000 first‑response personnel nationwide throughout the holiday.