Landslide kills at least 22 in Guatemala

Xinhua in Brazil Sun, Monday 5th January, 2009

Mexico City, Jan 5 (Xinhua) At least 22 people were killed and 10 others were missing in a massive landslide in northern Guatemala, emergency officials said.

The landslide occurred in Alta Verapaz district, some 200 km north of Guatemala City, Sunday night. Falling stones and mud hit several people walking along a nearby road, an official said.

According to a local radio, around 10 people were missing after the landslide. Rescue workers were continuing their search for the missing people, the report said.

Last July, at least 21 people were killed in a major landslide in the La Union area, 220 km northeast of Guatemala City.

Landslides regularly occur in Guatemala during the rainy season between May and October. However, the latest landslide was caused by a geological fault, a disaster relief official said.

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