59 dead, hundreds missing in Guatemala landslide

Guatemala, Oct 04 (ANI): Rescue workers scrabbled through earth and rubble in search of survivors of a massive landslide in Guatemala that killed at least 59 people, even as hopes began to fade for hundreds of others still missing. Diggers plowed into the mounds of earth that destroyed homes in Santa Catarina Pinula on the southeastern flank of Guatemala City looking for about 350 people who authorities said were still unaccounted for after Thursday night's disaster. Loosened by rain, tons of earth, rock and trees cascaded onto part of the town from the hillside above, flattening houses and trapping residents who had gone home for the night. Julio Sanchez, a spokesperson with the volunteer firefighters, said they had confirmed 59 dead, including three victims whose bodies had just arrived in the past hour. Among the dead were 17 children, and there were at least 26 people reported as injured. Around 1,800 soldiers, firemen and neighbours helped with the rescue efforts, according to a