Hundreds feared dean after landslide in Guatemala.

Twenty-six people have been confirmed dean and another thirty-six people are known to have been injured following a landslide which struck the town of Santa Catarina Pinula in southern Guatemala late on Thursday 1 October 2015, burring around 150 homes. However it is thought that around 600 further people are missing following the event, as rescue attempts had to be abandoned on Friday 2 October and the area evacuated due to ongoing heavy rainfall which was further destabilizing the hillside.

Rescue attempts at Santa Catarina Pinula in Guatemala on Friday 2 October 2015. Esteban Biba/EPA.

The incident happened following several days of heavy rainfall. Landslides are a common problem after severe weather events, as excess pore water pressure can overcome cohesion in soil and sediments, allowing them to flow like liquids. Approximately 90% of all landslides are caused by heavy rainfall. Guatemala has a rainy season which lasts from May to October, with peak rainfall falling in September, when the monthly rainfall typically exceeds 400 mm.

The approximate location of the 1 October 2015 Santa Catarina Pinula landslide. Google Maps.

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