Landslide Kills At
Least 22 In Guatemala
Guatemala City - A
massive landslide killed
at least 22 people in
northern Guatemala on
Sunday, destroying part
of a road still under
construction, local
emergency authorities
said.
The landslide occurred
in the district of Alta
Verapaz, some 200 km
north of Guatemala City.
Several people walking
along a road nearby were
hit by falling stones
and mud.
Local radio said about
10 people were still
missing and emergency
workers were still
looking for survivors
Sunday night.
Last July, a major
landslide occurred in La
Union, 220 km northeast
of Guatemala City,
killing at least 21
people.
Landslide is most likely
to occur during rainy
season from May to
October, when the soil
is loosened by heavy
rain. But this time, the
landslide was caused by
a geological fault, said
an official from
Guatemala's disaster
relief commission CONRED.
It is not clear whether
the landslide was
related to road
construction, the
official said. Two
people were killed in a
minor landslide two
weeks ago along the same
road. |
