Mexico Landslide September 28: Oaxaca Landslide (Photos / Videos)

by Amy Judd | September 28, 2010 at 07:14 am

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Update: 12:32 pm PDT

At least eight people have been confirmed dead, seven of them in Santa Maria Tlahuitolpetec after two landslides buried about 300 houses earlier Tuesday morning. At least 100 are missing while Oaxaca's governor said that as many as 1,000 people could be trapped under the mud.

Survivors are trying to dig out their nieghbours and help in any way they can, but there is so much debris and damage their efforts are proving futile.

Rescuers are coming from as far away as Mexico City but some have yet to arrive, even eight hours after the slides. Some rescuers and equipment are being flown in by helicopter.

Officials are concerned that another hill could collapse on the town as large cracks have formed in the hillside.

Previous Story From Tuesday Morning:

Up to 1,000 People Are Feared Trapped and 600 Feared Dead After a Major Landslide in the Mexican State of Oaxaca

The landslide occurred early on Tuesday morning, when a hill that is about 650 feet wide collapsed and mud poured over about 300 houses. Reuters is reporting that a hillside collapsed in the town of Santa Maria Tlahuitoltepec in Oaxaca.

Governor Ulises Ruiz told CNN:

Rescue officials, heavy machinery and police and military authorities were on their way to the scene, Ruiz said.

"We expect to get there in time to rescue these people," he said.

This area has seen heavy rain over the past few days and many rivers have burst their banks, blocking roads and residents in their homes. Rescue efforts are slow due to the extensive mud in the area and the blocked roads.

Residents are getting concerned that help is very slow in coming to them. Teams are on the way, but this is a very mountainous region with treacherous roads so rescue crews are working at a slower pace than normal.

Tropical Storm Matthew passed through this region in the past few days causing heavy rainfall with satellite data recording about 300 mm in the past three days.

Many houses are built on the edge of ridges on the steep terrain in the state, which stands 2,000 feet above sea level, making it conducive to landslides in severe weather.

Yet more rain is forecast for the region over the next day and a half.

A state of emergency had already been declared in Oaxaca due to the severe weather and flooding.