GUATEMALA CITY---As many as 100 people may have been buried in a
landslide in Guatemala on a major highway, a spokesman for the fire
department said Sunday.

Approximately 100 people were attempting to dig a bus out of a first
mudslide when a second engulfed the scene, said fire department
spokesman Sergio Vasquez.

At least 36 people have been confirmed killed by mudslides and flooding
throughout the country since Saturday, according to emergency workers.

The president told officials in Guatemala to close the highway for fear
of more slides.

"There are several hillsides that are loose and could fall. So we ask
the population to not go out, to avoid moving along the highways," he said.

But hours later, vehicles were trapped by another slide, and some of the
people who came to rescue them were themselves caught by the following
slide.

Civil Defense director Sergio Cabanas said at least 10 people were
killed -- some in vehicles and some among people who came to rescue them.

He said at least 60 people are missing.

Regional fire department officer Major Otto Mazariegos said some of the
victims of the second slide were rescuers.

"We are told that there are 150 missing," he said. "Under the earth
there is a bus that carried we don't know how many people, and there are
those who tried to help the victims of the first slide."

Heavy rains from Tropical Depression 11-E have pelted Guatemala for
days, unleashing deadly mudslides in several areas, cutting highways and
forcing officials to evacuate thousands of people.

---

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites