Tuesday, September 28

Mexico landslide

Mexico landslide,
An skyline of a rural city.
Santa María Tlahuitoltepec skyline
Duration:September 28, 2010
Fatalities:8
Areas affected:Santa María Tlahuitoltepec,Oaxaca, Mexico
The Mexico landslide or Santa María Tlahuitoltepec landslide occurred on September 28, 2010, where at least 300 houses were buried by a landslide in Santa María Tlahuitoltepec, state of Oaxaca, and is estimated to have buried up to 1,000 people while they slept. The landslide was caused by heavy rain from the remnants of Tropical Storm Matthew.


Background

Mexico was experiencing some of the heaviest rains in recent memory prior to this landslide. Thousands had been forced from their homes in southern part of the country due to the rains. The city of Santa María Tlahuitoltepec has a population of 9,000 majority of whom are Mixe Indians.


Landslide

The Landslide occurred at 4 am local time. Part of a hill collapsed on a length of 200 meters, destroying more than 300 houses. The Governor of the state, Ulises Ruiz Ortiz, earlier said that it is too early to say how many victims were trapped or buried under the earth, but estimated that number of missing could be 600 to 1,000 people. The landslide occurred in a mountainous area flooded by torrential rains from the remnants of Tropical Storm Matthew.

Relief efforts

The Mexican military has attempted to reach the town, alongside hundreds of rescue workers had been sent in to assist the victims but were having difficulty reaching the area due to floods and landslides along the way. Mexican Red Cross stated that it was sending 40 health specialists, rescue dogs and 15 emergency vehicles to the area.



(source:wikipedia)

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