Guatemala mudslides kill at least 28
Source: Agencies |
September 6, 2010, Monday
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TORRENTIAL rains from a tropical depression caused mudslides that have killed at least 28 people in Guatemala - most of them in separate disasters along the same highway.
The first highway slide near midday Saturday partially buried a bus under tons of mud at kilometer marker 81 on a highway leading northwest of the capital toward Mexico. Officials said at least 12 people died. That led President Alvaro Colom to declare a national emergency. He said four children and two adults were buried in other slides elsewhere.
"It is a tragic day. Today alone 18 people have died, 12 buried by a hill when they traveled in a bus," Colom told a news conference.
The president told officials 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," Colom said.
But hours later, vehicles were trapped by another slide at kilometer 171, officials reported, and some of the people who came to rescue them were themselves caught by following slide.
The first highway slide near midday Saturday partially buried a bus under tons of mud at kilometer marker 81 on a highway leading northwest of the capital toward Mexico. Officials said at least 12 people died. That led President Alvaro Colom to declare a national emergency. He said four children and two adults were buried in other slides elsewhere.
"It is a tragic day. Today alone 18 people have died, 12 buried by a hill when they traveled in a bus," Colom told a news conference.
The president told officials 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," Colom said.
But hours later, vehicles were trapped by another slide at kilometer 171, officials reported, and some of the people who came to rescue them were themselves caught by following slide.
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