Lament In Guatemala For At Least 131 Dead In Landslide

In Guatemala a catastrophic landslide caused by heavy rains buried at least 131 people while 300 others are missing.

In Guatemala a catastrophic landslide caused by heavy rains buried at least 131 people while 300 others are missing. Hopes for survivors have almost vanished, but the crews are continuing the search and rescue operations.

Approximately 1,800 people participate in the rescue, along with the Red Cross, police and other rescue teams.

The rescue teams make desperate efforts to find people in the landslide debris.

"I feel lucky because other families can't even cry over their dead," said Alejandro Lopez, a 45-year-old taxi driver, who recovered the bodies of two daughters and a grandson. "But I would like to find the mother of my daughters," he said.

The part of town that was hit, El Cambray II, was in a steep ravine with relatively dense vegetation.

Various services warned with regards to the risks for residents, saying that from the beginning building permits should have never been given in the area.