Edition of October 26, 2026
Rebel Bites
Theresa Ejiro EfiakpovworeFuel prices stay unchanged through November 9
The General Directorate of Energy, Hydrocarbons and Mines (DGEHM) said on Monday, October 26, that reference fuel prices will not change from Tuesday, October 27, to Monday, November 9. It is the third fortnight in a row with no change. In the central zone, a gallon of premium gasoline stays at $5.13, regular at $4.80 and diesel at $4.86; in the west and east, premium costs $5.14, regular $4.81 and diesel $4.86. According to the DGEHM, international prices remain uncertain because of supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, and the agency credits local stability to coordinated work between the government and oil companies.
Puente Cuscatlán sets a record low of 14.6 °C, according to MARN
According to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN), the weather station at Puente Cuscatlán, on the Lempa River in San Vicente, recorded 14.6 °C in the early hours of Monday, October 26. MARN presented it as a new record, below the station's previous record of 17.0 °C. The outlets disagree on the year of the previous record, so we left it out. The cold comes with northerly winds, which according to MARN will continue at 15 to 25 km/h with gusts of up to 45 km/h.
Two Colombian tourists die after being swept out to sea at Costa del Sol; one person is still missing
Two Colombian tourists, aged 50 and 57, died on Monday morning, October 26, after being swept away by a sea current at Costa del Sol beach, in the El Zapote area of San Luis La Herradura, La Paz. According to Comandos de Salvamento, a third person was also pulled out to sea and was still missing; the Navy was supporting the search. MARN had announced spring tides along the Salvadoran coast from October 26 to 30.
UN experts list Salvadorans among trafficking victims recruited into Russia's army
The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine presented a report to the UN General Assembly on Monday, October 26. It says it has evidence that Russian authorities trafficked people from 29 countries into their armed forces through deception and coercion. Salvadorans are among the victims. La Prensa Gráfica had documented in July the case of at least five Salvadorans taken to Russia under false pretenses who remain missing.
Exports reach $5,093.1 million through September, up 3.7%, according to the central bank
According to Central Reserve Bank (BCR) data, El Salvador exported $5,093.1 million between January and September 2026, 3.7% more than in the same period of 2025. By volume, exports grew 6.1%. In September alone, exports rose 8.2% compared with the same month last year. These are official BCR figures reported by several outlets.
The U-15 team beats Tunisia and Guinea-Bissau and finishes the group stage with three wins
El Salvador's U-15 team won two matches on Monday, October 26, at the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival in Baku, Azerbaijan. Early in the morning it beat Tunisia 2-1 with goals from Jericho Ayala (12th minute) and Marcos Plana (37th minute). Hours later it beat Guinea-Bissau 1-0 with a goal from Keneth Salguero in the 27th minute. Kilmar Jiménez's team finished the group stage with three wins, against Congo, Tunisia and Guinea-Bissau, and two losses, against Brazil and Nepal.
San Salvador Centro's 18 cemeteries will open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the Day of the Dead
The San Salvador Centro mayor's office said its 18 municipal cemeteries will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on October 31 and November 1 and 2 for the Day of the Dead. The cemeteries are in the districts of San Salvador, Mejicanos, Ayutuxtepeque, Ciudad Delgado and Cuscatancingo. The city expects more than 70,000 visitors over those three days. There will be information points to help locate graves, Cajas Express payment points and first-aid stations.
Pablo Torres, the living-statue artist who played Moses in downtown San Salvador, dies after being hit by a vehicle
Artist Pablo Ernesto Torres, 30, died on Sunday, October 25, after being hit by a vehicle on the Litoral highway near the Los Zacatillos bridge in San Juan Nonualco, La Paz Este. Torres was known for performing as a living statue in San Salvador's historic downtown, especially as Moses. The National Civil Police is investigating the circumstances of the accident.
Dominican Republic says statements attributed to Bukele against its government and military are fake
The Dominican Republic's Foreign Ministry said on Monday, October 26, that Nayib Bukele did not make the statements against the Dominican government and its armed forces that are circulating on social media. According to the Dominican foreign ministry, the message was attributed to an account that does not exist. The ministry said it is checking where that account came from and does not rule out legal action against those responsible. It also urged people to verify anything attributed to foreign officials and reiterated that relations between the two countries are based on cooperation.
Salvadoran streamer Komanche dies at 30 in Monterrey, Mexico
The Salvadoran content creator known as Komanche has died at 30 in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico. His representative, Byron Reyes, confirmed the news on Monday, October 26, after speaking with the family. According to Mexican media, the body was found on Sunday, October 25, in a home in the Paseo de Cumbres neighborhood. Mexican authorities have not officially confirmed the cause of death. His death prompted farewell messages from well-known Spanish-speaking streamers.
Sandra Yanira Martínez, pioneering meteorologist and former lawmaker, dies
Meteorologist Sandra Yanira Martínez Tobar died on Sunday, October 25, at age 67, national media reported; her party, Nuevas Ideas, announced her death. She worked for decades in weather forecasting, aeronautical and marine meteorology and hydrology, and was one of the first women to practice the profession in El Salvador. From 2021 to 2024 she was a lawmaker for La Libertad with Nuevas Ideas. The presidential office posted that President Nayib Bukele and First Lady Gabriela de Bukele mourn her passing. The cause of death has not been made public.
Police report zero homicides on Sunday, October 25
According to the National Civil Police (PNC), Sunday, October 25 ended with no homicides in the country. The PNC posted it on X shortly after midnight, and the presidential press office credited it to the strategy of President Nayib Bukele's government. It is the fourth day in a row with this official report, after Thursday, October 22, Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24. The figure is the PNC's own; no further breakdown was published.
Grandparents' Festival draws more than 20,000 people at El Cafetalón, the government says
On Sunday, October 25, El Cafetalón park in Santa Tecla hosted the Grandparents' Festival, "Wonderful Resources of the Salvadoran Flourishing," organized by the Integration Directorate. According to the presidential press office, more than 20,000 people attended. Older adults, university scholarship students and residents of different communities shared workshops, music and games. The day included the finals of art, culture and sports competitions.
El Salvador's U-15 team loses to Brazil and Nepal at the FIFA World Cup and Festival
El Salvador's U-15 team lost both of its games on Sunday, October 25 at the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival in Azerbaijan: 0-7 to Brazil and 1-3 to Nepal. Joey Rubio scored El Salvador's only goal of the day. The team, coached by Kilmar Jiménez, has three points in Group D, thanks to its opening 3-2 win over DR Congo. On Monday the 26th it closes the group stage with another double day, against Tunisia and Guinea-Bissau.
Águila beats FAS 3-1 in the Clásico and Firpo stays top of the Apertura with 32 points
In matchday 17 of the 2026 Apertura tournament, Águila beat FAS 3-1 on Saturday at the Juan Francisco Barraza stadium in San Miguel, in a new edition of the Clásico Nacional. FAS went ahead with a goal by Édgar Medrano, but Águila came back. On Sunday, Luis Ángel Firpo drew 1-1 with Platense in Zacatecoluca and stays in first place with 32 points, one more than FAS.
University of El Salvador and Rotaract open a free program for survivors of sexual violence
A new comprehensive, free program for survivors of sexual violence will operate at the Valencia Regional Health Center of the University of El Salvador's (UES) School of Medicine. The initiative is led by the Rotaract Maquilishuat club, with the Rotary Club of Stockton, California, as sponsor. It will offer medical and psychological care, with an emphasis on suicide prevention. Outlets report different coverage targets, so we have left them out.
PNC: Says Tourism Police officers helped bring a 31-year-old tourist down from the Ilamatepec volcano in Santa Ana after she fell; she was taken to a medical facility for evaluation
The PNC says Tourism Police officers helped bring a 31-year-old tourist down from the Ilamatepec volcano in Santa Ana after she fell; she was taken to a medical facility for evaluation.
Press Secretariat: Says ANDA is repairing a pipe from the El Zapote tank after a leak and is supplying water by tanker truck while the work goes on
The presidential press office says ANDA is repairing a pipe from the El Zapote tank after a leak and is supplying water by tanker truck while the work goes on.
PNC: Shows patrols with the Armed Forces in rural areas of Santiago Texacuangos, Panchimalco and Rosario de Mora, in San Salvador Sur
The PNC shows patrols with the Armed Forces in rural areas of Santiago Texacuangos, Panchimalco and Rosario de Mora, in San Salvador Sur.
Press Secretariat: Economy Minister María Luisa Hayem highlighted that the economy grew 5.1% in the second quarter of 2026 and linked that boost to security conditions
According to the presidential press office, Economy Minister María Luisa Hayem highlighted that the economy grew 5.1% in the second quarter of 2026 and linked that boost to security conditions.
Armed Forces: Shares the PNC's report of 0 homicides on Sunday, October 25
The Armed Forces share the PNC's report of 0 homicides on Sunday, October 25.
Press Secretariat: Repeats the PNC's report of zero homicides on Sunday, October 25 and credits the government's strategy
The presidential press office repeats the PNC's report of zero homicides on Sunday, October 25 and credits the government's strategy.
PNC: Sunday, October 25 ended with 0 homicides in the country
The PNC reports that Sunday, October 25 ended with 0 homicides in the country.
Presidency: The presidential office says President Bukele and the first lady mourn the death of meteorologist and former lawmaker Sandra Yanira Martínez
The presidential office says President Bukele and the first lady mourn the death of meteorologist and former lawmaker Sandra Yanira Martínez.
PNC: Shows families at Puerta del Diablo Natural Park in San Salvador Sur and says security there is guaranteed
The PNC shows families at Puerta del Diablo Natural Park in San Salvador Sur and says security there is guaranteed.
PNC: Shows tourists at the Cerro Verde Natural Park lookouts in Santa Ana and says its tourism police unit (Politur) provides security
The PNC shows tourists at the Cerro Verde Natural Park lookouts in Santa Ana and says its tourism police unit (Politur) provides security.
Press Secretariat: Promotes Cifco Jurásico, a family attraction open from October 30 to November 1
The presidential press office promotes Cifco Jurásico, a family attraction open from October 30 to November 1.
Press Secretariat: More than 20,000 people took part in the Grandparents' Festival at El Cafetalón, Santa Tecla
The presidential press office says more than 20,000 people took part in the Grandparents' Festival at El Cafetalón, Santa Tecla.
PNC: Says its officers are watching over recreational parks around the country during the weekend
The PNC says its officers are watching over recreational parks around the country during the weekend.
PNC: Shows tourist spots in Alegría, Santiago Texacuangos, Santa Ana and Atiquizaya, and says they are welcoming local and foreign visitors
The PNC shows tourist spots in Alegría, Santiago Texacuangos, Santa Ana and Atiquizaya, and says they are welcoming local and foreign visitors.
Bukele: Shares a correction by the Haití en Español account, which clarifies that he did not say the soldier whose ID card he showed was dead
Bukele shares a correction by the Haití en Español account, which clarifies that he did not say the soldier whose ID card he showed was dead.
Security Ministry: Shares the PNC's report of 0 homicides on Saturday, October 24
The Security Ministry shares the PNC's report of 0 homicides on Saturday, October 24.