Collapsed roads hamper Guatemalan storm rescue

COLLAPSED roads and highway bridges complicated rescue efforts in Guatemala yesterday after Tropical Storm Agatha drenched Central America, burying homes under mud and killing at least 179 people.

Dozens of people were still missing and rescue teams struggled to reach remote rural communities after the storm cut off roads and destroyed up to 18 major road bridges.

Some 35,000 people remained in emergency shelters three days after Agatha, slammed into western Guatemala.

Aid workers relied on six US helicopters, as well as private helicopters, to get tents and medical supplies to remote towns.

At least 152 people died in Guatemala, but 100 others were missing, according to the government. Ten people were killed in El Salvador and 17 died in Honduras.