Heavy rains set off a landslide in Guatemala’s capital early Monday sweeping several humble homes into a river and leaving at least six people dead and 12 missing, including 10 minors.
Guatemala's National Disaster Reduction Coordinator said in a statement Monday that the death toll had risen to six, including a young girl, along with 12 people missing.
The 5-year-old girl was recovered by firefighters partially buried in debris and mud some 5 kilometers (3 miles) down the Naranjo river.
The landslide swept away six homes and the families who lived in them around 2 a.m. Around 5 a.m. the firefighters announced they would start a search.
Landslides are a constant threat during Guatemala’s rainy season, which extends to November. There are few controls on where people build their homes, especially in poor settlements, putting them at greater risk.
Images provided by rescuers showed a long path of the landslide and evidence of domestic life strewn along the riverbank. The military set up a command center to oversee the rescue effort.
