Guatemala: One dead and several buried after construction collapse

A large-scale emergency operation is underway in the Guatemalan capital following the collapse of a construction site that left several workers buried under tons of earth. The Municipal Departmental Firefighters, known as the Red Helmets, are working intensely in zone 14 of Guatemala City, where the collapse occurred while work was being carried out on the construction site. According to information released by the media outlet Prensa Libre, at least five people were trapped underground. Rescue teams managed to bring one of the workers out alive and confirmed the death of another while search efforts continued. So far, the causes of the landslide have not been determined. The emergency keeps local authorities on alert. Videos released from the scene show the moment rescuers extract some victims from the rubble, while efforts continue to locate possible survivors.

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“The personnel remain at the critical point, carrying out manual excavations and using specialized equipment; the priority is to locate anyone who may still be trapped,” sources from the rescue teams indicated. The instability of the terrain represents one of the greatest risks for rescuers, who must work with extreme caution while continuing to remove earth and debris. The area remains cordoned off to facilitate the access of ambulances and support machinery. Rescuers use ropes, hand tools, and specialized technology to locate survivors. In one of the recorded maneuvers, an injured worker was placed on a special stretcher and lifted by cables and a crane to move him to a safe area, where medical personnel were waiting to provide immediate care. Rescue efforts continue uninterrupted as authorities try to determine the exact number of people affected and the causes of the collapse.