Guatemala to Continue Searching for 300 Missing in Landslide

Guatemala to Continue Searching for 300 Missing in Landslide
Fecha de publicación: 
6 October 2015
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The mudslide occurred Thursday night, in El Cambray II, a village outside the city of Santa Catarina Pinula, located about 22 kilometers (13 miles) from the capital and nestled between two small mountains, one of which collapsed owing to heavy rains, burying 125 houses under more than 25 meters (82 feet) of mud.

Although the global 72-hours deadline for search and rescue missions elapse Sunday night but rescue workers told ACAN-EFE work will continue at “Ground Zero” Monday too.

Scattered rainfall was expected late Sunday in the affected region, Eddy Sanchez, director of Guatemala’s National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology, told ACAN-EFE.

He added adverse weather conditions were making the soil unstable and hindering search and rescue operations.

The rainfall, expected to be moderate and continue through Monday, is unlikely to trigger more landslides in the area, according to Sanchez, who, however, warned the situation could be affected by vibrations from machines, which is why helicopters are barred from flying over the area.

Meanwhile, among the dead, 69 victims have been identified so far.

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