LANDSLIDE TRAGEDY IN GUATEMALA 2010
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Transcript of LANDSLIDE TRAGEDY IN GUATEMALA 2010
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.