- Title: Guatemala: Huge Mudslide Kills 1,400 In Guatemalan VIllage
- Date: 9th October 2005
- Summary: Days of torrential rain finally took their toll in the early hours of October 5, 2005, as a wave of mud, rocks and trees swept down the flank of the San Lucas volcano and buried the village of Panajab beneath tonnes of earth. The mudslide, triggered by Hurricane Stan, covered an area of 1. 5 square miles (4 square kilometres) and was up to 40 feet (12 metres) deep in places. The village, 110 miles (180kms) west of Guatemala City, effectively ceased to exist, and up to 1,400 people were missing, believed entombed beneath the quagmire. By October 9, all hope of finding anyone alive had faded. Dozens of bodies had been recovered and local officials were desperately trying to draw up lists of the missing and dead. On October 10, the area was declared a high health risk zone as rescue attempts still continued. However, on October 11 all efforts were finally abandoned. The missing 1,400 people were said to be considered dead and the area pronounced to be off limits to avoid the outbreak of disease. This decision brought the number of those killed in Guatemala in the wake of the hurricane to 2,177. STRONG MATERIAL WARNING: Please be aware that this item contains material of a graphic nature. NOTE: SOUND AS RECEIVED.
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- Location: GUATEMALA PANABAJ
- Reuters ID: LDL0012P1TNCJ
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
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- Copyright Holder: Reuters Archive
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