69 dead and 350 missing after Guatemala City landslide

Rescue workers using shovels and pickaxes recovered more bodies from the rubble of a collapsed hillside on the outskirts of Guatemala City as the death toll rose to 69, with another 350 people believed missing.

Julio Sanchez, spokesman for Guatemala’s volunteer firefighters, said the death toll will probably continue to rise as emergency crews dig through tons of earth that buried some 125 homes on Thursday night.

Earlier estimates had said that 600 people could be missing. Despite the passing time, emergency services co-ordinator Sergio Cabanas said rescuers “still have hope of finding people alive if we just keep searching”.

At the site, workers with dogs laboured without rest, halting only when a long whistle sounded, testing if anyone was still alive under the mud and debris.

Mr Cabanas said he had been contacted by several people who reported receiving messages on their mobile from family members trapped under the rubble.

He said authorities had not seen the reported text messages, but had asked local telephone companies to try to map out where the messages were sent from.

Late on Saturday, hopes began to fade and authorities announced that the search would be suspended until the morning to guarantee the safety of the rescue workers.

“Given the time that has passed, the truth is there is little hope” of finding survivors, said Ines de Leon or the Volunteer Firefighters Rescue Brigade of Retalhuleu province said that given the time that had passed, there was little hope of finding survivors.

“Only a miracle can save them,” he said.