Guatemala City - Hopes of finding survivors following a mudslide in Guatemala City dwindled on Monday as rescuers continued to recover bodies from the muck, raising the death toll to 131.
Rainfall continued on Sunday, frustrating the rescue team’s efforts and posing a risk of further mudslides, according to chief coordinator Sergio Cabanas.
The state prosecutor said that 69 of the bodies had been identified.
The death toll is set to rise, with 300 people missing in the Guatemalan capital. Cabanas said it was very unlikely that more survivors would be found.
Around 1 800 rescuers and volunteers have been at work in the residential area of Santa Carina Pinula, where the mudslide struck early on Friday after days of rain.
Sunday saw 60 disaster control specialists join the search and Mexico sent marines to aid its neighbour’s rescue efforts.
Heavy machinery was used to move the earth and uncover people trapped in the sludge.
Funerals for the victims have already taken place, including a ceremony for a 10-year-old girl who was buried by the muck along with 13 other children as they celebrated children’s day, newspaper Prensa Libre reported.
Some buildings lie under as much as 20 metres of soil, fire department chief Fritz Garcia-Gallont said, according to Prensa Libre.
About 300 000 people living around Guatemala City inhabit an area susceptible to mudslides, according to disaster protection officials.
A reported 125 homes were engulfed in Friday’s disaster in a predominantly poor area.
“It is impossible to relocate everyone,” acting president Alejandro Maldonado said.
DPA