More rain threatens Guatemala mudslide victims search

With 300 people still missing, Guatemala rescue crews resumed the grim search for victims Monday in rubble left by a mudslide that officials say has claimed at least 131 lives.  

But bad weather delayed the start of search efforts by three hours and teams were told they would have to suspend their efforts if it started raining again, Julio Sanchez of the volunteer fire brigade told AFP.

Following heavy rain Thursday, waterlogged earth and debris tore through the village of El Cambray II, in the municipality of Santa Catarina Pinula, destroying or damaging at least 125 homes.

Officials said Sunday that the death toll of the disaster had climbed to at least 131 -- and that newborn babies were among the victims.

Crews braved dangerous conditions at the site, about 15 kilometers (10 miles) east of the capital Guatemala City.

When the heads of the hundreds of rescue workers inspected the area Monday to ensure the safety of those working there, a wall of about four meters (13 feet) collapsed around them.

And as the odor of decomposing bodies spread, rescuers wore face masks to protect themselves against diseases.

The best hope for rescuing victims in landslides, cave-ins and earthquakes is within 72 hours of the tragedy, and that time has now passed.

Leading up to the tragedy, municipal authorities had urged the community to relocate several times, most recently in November of last year.

But many families have refused, saying that they have nowhere to go.

More than 53 percent of Guatemala's population of 16 million lives in poverty.