Massive Landslide Buries Remote Guatemala Village, Over 20 Dead, Families Trapped, Rescue Efforts Delayed

Quiche, Guatemala— A massive landslide buried a remote village in Guatemala's western highlands early Monday, killing more than 20 people and leaving dozens trapped under mud and rock. The hillside gave way after days of heavy rain.

The slide hit before 5 a.m. in a small community in El Quiche department. Locals said they heard a deep roar, then the mountain came down in one sheet. About 30 homes made of concrete block and tin were crushed or pushed into a ravine. There was no time to run.

Authorities confirmed 22 dead by evening, with at least 15 missing. The mayor of the municipality said the death count is not final. "The mud is deep, maybe 15 meters in places," he said. "We are digging with hands and shovels because machines cannot climb up."

The only access road is gone. That road was already narrow and unpaved. Now it is covered by earth and trees. Rescue teams, soldiers and volunteers had to hike for two hours with tools on their backs. Rain kept falling. The soil kept sliding.

Survivors pulled neighbors out where they could. A woman who lost two brothers said, "We heard them shouting. Then the shouting stopped. We could not move the rock." Children are among the missing. A local clinic listed 11 injured, three in critical condition.

Geologists say the area sits on unstable volcanic soil. Deforestation and weeks of above-average rainfall made it worse. CONRED, the national disaster agency, had issued a warning for the department on Sunday but many communities never got it due to limited radio coverage.

Relief is slow. Helicopters could not fly in the morning because of low clouds. Food, water and body bags were finally dropped in the afternoon. Engineers warn another large section of the slope is cracked and could drop.

Families are waiting on a ridge above the debris field. Some refuse to leave. Others want to be evacuated because they fear a second slide. Officials say they have no place to house them if they do come down.

Digging stopped briefly tonight when movement was detected on the upper slope. Crews were pulled back.