Hundreds displaced as heavy rains trigger deadly floods and landslides, Guatemala

Strong rains have triggered floods and landslides in Huehuetenango and Guatemala departments, destroying homes on October 30, 2019. At least 4 people have been killed and hundreds displaced. The bodies of the victims were identified as a father and his three children, who were then retrieved after the incident.

According to CONRED, the country's disaster authority, the floods have occurred in the departments of Quetzaltenango, San Marcos, and Sacatepequez. 

In the departments of Huehuetenango and Guatemala, a landslide swallowed four houses in the village of Xenaxicul on early October 30, killing four people from the same family. The shocking incident was captured on a video as rocks and mud pummelled 183 m (600 feet) down the cliff.

Days prior to the incident, a landslide also pummelled into the settlement of Nuevo Amanecer in Ciudad Peronia, Villa Nueva on October 28.

Eight residential properties totally collapsed, and over 100 people are still at risk. Around 1 000 people have already evacuated.

No injuries or fatalities were reported. Authorities have then declared a state of calamity.

In La Esperanza, flooding also occurred from around October 30, destroying dozens of homes and displacing at least 35.

In San Marcos Department, more than 400 have been affected by the burst of Naranjo River in the municipality of La Blanca. More than 60 homes were damaged.

Flooding from October 31 affected 10 homes in San Pedro Las Huertas, Sacatepequez Department.

Almost 5 000 have been displaced so far during the rainy season, which started May.

Featured image credit: Municipal de Villa Nueva