Disaster in Guatemala

First the Volcano Pacaya outside Guatemala City erupted (with subsequent earthquakes) spewing at least 3" of ash over the city and surrounding area. The airport and most businesses closed and then the rain came the ash turned to a cement like substance clogging drains. The airport is still closed. The tropical storm Agathawhich then hit Guatemala dropped at least 20" of rain and in some cases 36" in 24 hours and created a disaster throughout most of the country.
Over 100,000 people had to evacuate their homes and there are 110 deaths reported already and 53 people missing. A small town on the banks of Lake Atitlan lost several people when a mud slide buried a section of the town. Here neighbors outside Antigua are digging out two bodies from a destroyed home.

A typical blocked street in the area. Huge trees were blown down or uprooted.

Many houses are not well constructed and couldn't withstand the rain.

This is one of those really heavy concrete sinks which women use to wash clothes in tossed over in the rain and flooding.

Flooded streets.

Parts of buildings just washed away. Many farmers lost all their crops and subsequently their food for the coming few months.

If you are interested in helping you might send a donation via Paypal to :

mayanfamilies.org