Tropical Storm Eta makes landfall in the Florida Keys, expected to strengthen

Days after passing through Mexico and Central America, Tropical Storm Eta hit the Florida Keys Sunday night, according to The Associated Press.

Florida has shuttered beaches, ports and coronavirus testing sites while public transportation has been shut down, according to the AP. Broward County has canceled in-person classes for the day as well.

Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) declared a state of emergency in eight counties over the weekend, while Miami-Dade County separately declared a state of emergency and a flood watch set to end Tuesday evening. In the Keys, meanwhile, officials have yet to make a decision on evacuating residents or tourists.

As of Sunday night, the storm had maximum sustained winds of 65 miles per hour. It earlier hit Cuba, where no deaths were reported amid widespread flooding. About 25,000 Cubans had earlier been evacuated, according to the AP.

In Guatemala, meanwhile, the storm has caused at least 27 deaths, and over 100 people are missing after rainfall contributed to a major landslide in the town of San Cristobal Verapaz. At least five bodies have been recovered from a landslide in the indigenous community of Quejá.

In Mexico, at least 20 deaths have been reported. Honduras’s national disaster agency has reported eight deaths, although local officials have reported a total of 21.

Pope Francis urged prayers for the Central American victims of the hurricane in St. Peter’s Square Sunday, praying 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.”