Wed | Dec 6, 2023

At least three killed,15 missing in landslide in Guatemala

Published:Monday | September 25, 2023 | 3:49 PM
A firefighter and search dog look for survivors where homes were swept away overnight by a swollen Naranjo River after heavy rain in the "Dios es fiel," or "God is Loyal" shanty on the outskirts of Guatemala City, Monday, September 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Heavy rains set off a landslide in Guatemala's capital early Monday sweeping several humble homes into a river and leaving three people dead and at least 15 people missing, including 10 minors.

Guatemala's National Disaster Reduction Coordinator confirmed the three dead, including a young girl, in a statement Monday.

The 5-year-old girl was recovered by firefighters partially buried in debris and mud some three miles (five kilometres) down the Naranjo river.

The landslide swept away six homes and the families who lived in them around 2 a.m. Around 5 a.m. the firefighters announced they would start a search.

Landslides are a constant threat during Guatemala's rainy season, which extends to November. There are few controls on where people build their homes, especially in poor settlements, putting them at greater risk.

Images provided by rescuers showed a long path of the landslide and evidence of domestic life strewn along the river bank.

The military set up a command centre to oversee the rescue effort.

Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.