LANDSLIDE TRAGEDY IN GUATEMALA 2010

Walter Hays, Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction, University of

North Carolina, USA

MASSIVE LANDSLIDES AFTER A PERIOD OF INTENSIVE RAINFALL

BURY A BUS THEN

OVER 100 RESCUE WORKERS IN GUATEMALA

A National Tragedy 80 km from Tecpan, the Capital

September 4-5, 2010

Several landslides had occurred along the Nation’s

highways during the last year, and authorities knew of the danger, but did nothing; NOW, at least 58 are dead.

Massive landslides were triggered in Guatemala

following constant rain from Tropical Depression 11 E in that left the hillsides in the

region saturated with water.

More than 30 separate landslides cut the Inter-

American Highway, one of Guatemala's main roads,

within a single 30-mile (50-km) stretch.

A LANDSLIDE ON THE INTER-AMERICAN HIGHWAY

LANDSLIDE NEAR NAHUALA

TRAGEDY STRUCK: Approximately 100 people

were attempting to dig a bus out of a mudslide on

Saturday, September 4th when a second landslide

engulfed them on Sunday.

BUS BURIED BY LANDSLIDE: SEPTEMBER 4

EXCAVATING THE BUS

RESCUE WORKERS BURIED IN SECOND LANDSLIDE: SEPT 5

INTENSIVE SEARCH AND RECUE OPERATIONS

Recovery efforts had to be abandoned when heavy rain

struck the region again, sending people fleeing from the rain-saturated hillsides

Over 12,000 were evacuated to temporary shelters.

To prevent further landslide tragedies, the President

ordered the Inter-American Highway closed and urged people to stay of the roads.