During the first days of the holiday period for the August festivities in El Salvador, relief agencies reported 12 people deceased due to emergencies attended to throughout the country, according to the official consolidated report for the first four days of the holiday. The figure represents a 25% decrease compared to the same period of the previous year, which reflects the impact of the preventive measures and operations deployed in the main tourist areas.
The Director General of Civil Protection, Luis Amaya, confirmed that “we have 12 deaths compared to 16 last year. We are talking about 25% less,” Amaya specified, highlighting the relevance of the actions executed by the National Civil Protection System.
Most deaths are related to traffic accidents, an aspect that authorities continue to monitor closely. Amaya reported that 208 road accidents have been recorded, a figure 20% lower than last year’s. “We have almost 40% more arrests for dangerous driving, which is a response to the increase in checkpoints on routes to beaches and recreation centers,” he explained.
Civil Protection reported 169 traffic accidents during the August festivities as part of the 2026 Vacation Plan. (Photo courtesy of the Presidential Press Secretariat)
On the other hand, the official highlighted that no deaths from drowning have been reported on beaches, both public and private, during this period. “We continue with the good news of not having a single death from drowning on beaches. Unfortunately, we did have one person die in a swimming hole,” Amaya detailed. In addition, the consolidated report includes 37 water rescues, of which 31 were classified as deep-water and 6 as simple.
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Regarding fires, the director of Firefighters, Baltazar Solano, warned about the increase in incidents, especially in areas of dry brush. “In 2025 we had 4 brush fires, today we have 13, a 225% increase in this holiday period compared to the previous year,” Solano pointed out. According to the consolidated report, 29 fires have been attended to so far during the holiday, compared to 17 in 2025, which represents a 71% increase. Structural fires rose from 8 in 2025 to 10 in 2026, while vehicle fires went from 3 to 5.
Solano pointed out that Fire Department teams are maintaining constant inspections in areas with high tourist influx, with the goal of reducing risks. “As a fire department, we are conducting inspections in all these places where that tourist influx is expected in order to guarantee that safety,” he stated. He also insisted on checking the condition of vehicles and unplugging electrical appliances when leaving home, as distracted driving and technical failures continue to be among the main causes of accidents.
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Fires cause serious environmental damage, including the loss of flora and fauna, soil erosion, and a decrease in water filtration.
The deployment of 100,000 personnel from different institutions, according to Amaya, has allowed for the strengthening of care and prevention throughout the country. “We are working to ensure that everyone who decides to visit any recreational park or attend liturgical events does so with all necessary security,” he stated.
During the accountability session, officials reiterated the importance of following recommendations and respecting traffic regulations to avoid tragedies. “To the extent that you comply with these recommendations, you will have very fond memories of this vacation and not regrettable things that could even bring mourning to many families,” emphasized Amaya.
The institutions remain active to respond to any eventuality during the rest of the holiday period; although it ends on August 6, the special measures will be extended until August 9 due to the weekend.
