Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Guatemala Mourns Dozens Killed in Mudslides

   VOA News 06 September 2010
   People  attend  a  funeral  mass  for  mudslide victims in Santa Maria
   Ixtahuacan, Guatemala, Sunday Sept. 5, 2010

Photo: AP

   People  attend  a  funeral  mass  for  mudslide victims in Santa Maria
   Ixtahuacan, Guatemala, 05 Sep 2010.

   Guatemalans  are  marking  a national day of mourning after landslides
   caused  by  torrential  rains  killed  at  least  42 people across the
   country. President Alvaro Colom has declared the situation a "national
   tragedy."

   Officials  fear  the  death  toll  could  rise  as rescuers search for
   additional victims.

   Some 40,000 people have lost their homes, and Mr. Colom says the rains
   have caused up to $500 million in damage.

   The dead include 12 people killed when a bus was buried by a landslide
   Saturday about 80 kilometers from the capital, Guatemala City.

   Tropical  weather  systems  in both the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico
   have left hillsides throughout Guatemala and southern Mexico saturated
   with water.

   Heavy  flooding  in  the  Mexican  Gulf  state  of Tabasco also forced
   thousands  of  people  from  their  homes.  Authorities in neighboring
   Chiapas and Oaxaca states, which border Guatemala, and in the state of
   Veracruz reported serious flooding.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.

.