Two major earthquakes struck El Salvador in January and February of 2001, causing damage of approximately $1.9 billion, or 14 percent of GNP. More than 140,000 homes (20 percent of total housing) were destroyed, and severe damage was caused to the social and economic sectors. The two earthquakes were part of a long history of seismic activity in the area, underscoring the population’s extremely high level of vulnerability. Additionally, floods followed Hurricane Mitch at the end of 1998, and the El Niño phenomenon provoked drought and a dengue epidemic in 1999. These natural disasters were enhanced by an ongoing recession and high levels of social violence and criminal activity stemming from the country’s recent emergence from conflict.
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