Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update as of 9 June 2025

KEY FIGURES

• 800 people displaced due to increased activity from Volcán de Fuego, Guatemala
• 2.9M suspected cases of dengue in LAC as of epidemiological week 20
• 10Kpeople confined due to blockades by NSAGs in Guaviare, Colombia

MEXICO: TROPICAL STORM ALVIN

Tropical Storm Alvin, the first named system of the 2025 Eastern Pacific hurricane season, dissipated on 5 June without causing significant impacts in Mexico. Since then, storm activity has increased with Hurricane Barbara forming on 9 June and becoming the first hurricane of the season. As of 9 June, Barbara is located southwest of Manzanillo with sustained winds of 120 km/h and is moving northwest along the coast. While no coastal warnings are in place, the system is expected to generate hazardous surf and rip current conditions along parts of the southwestern coast over the coming days. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Cosme is strengthening further offshore and is forecast to become the second hurricane of the season later on 9 June, though it currently poses no threat to land. With favourable conditions in the region, forecasters continue to predict an above-average hurricane season for both the Eastern Pacific and Atlantic basins.

GUATEMALA: VOLCANIC ACTIVITY

Volcán de Fuego, located on the borders of Chimaltenango, Escuintla, and Sacatepéquez departments in southern Guatemala, has seen a significant increase in activity since 4 June, prompting evacuations and disrupting nearby communities. The eruption on 6 June produced pyroclastic flows extending up to 7 km and ash plumes reaching nearly 5 km above sea level, affecting several municipalities including Siquinalá, Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa, and Escuintla in Escuintla Department, and Acatenango and San Pedro Yepocapa in Chimaltenango. As of 8 June, 818 people have been displaced and at least four evacuation centres have been established in Escuintla. Heavy rainfall has also triggered lahars on the volcano’s slopes, leading to the closure of one major road and impacting two others. Authorities remain on alert and continue to monitor conditions as volcanic activity persists.

REGIONAL: DENGUE & YELLOW FEVER

As of epidemiological week 20 (EW20) of 2025, countries in the Americas reported 2,902,500 suspected dengue cases (286 per 100,000 people), almost 400,000 more than previously reported 2 weeks ago. Of these, 40 per cent were laboratory-confirmed and 0.1 per cent classified as severe. The death toll has risen to 1,240. Brazil continues to report the vast majority of cases, followed by Colombia and Costa Rica. While overall case numbers remain significantly lower than last year, some localized increases have been observed in Bolivia, Ecuador, Mexico, Guyana and Paraguay. Meanwhile, yellow fever cases are rising, with 235 confirmed cases and 96 deaths reported so far in 2025 across Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Peru is facing its most severe outbreak since 2017, prompting a major vaccination campaign across five high-risk regions. PAHO/WHO has urged countries to strengthen surveillance, vaccination, and clinical management in response to the spread of yellow fever beyond traditional enzootic zones.

COLOMBIA: CONFINEMENT

Since 26 May, around 10,000 people (2,500 families) in the municipality of San José del Guaviare, Guaviare department, have been confined due to a mobility blockade imposed by a non-state armed group (NSAG). The restriction on vehicular movement has severely limited access to essential services, including healthcare, education, transportation and food supplies, directly impacting livelihoods. Throughout the past week, armed clashes between two NSAGs over territorial control have continued, with reported incidents including vehicle theft, the killing of a transporter for non-compliance with restrictions, and ongoing threats circulated via social media. The situation is further compounded by a high risk of additional impacts from ongoing flooding in the area.