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A third of Guatemala's population has been affected by the heavy rains and mudslides unleashed by Tropical Storm Stan, the country's defense minister said on Wednesday. "Thirty percent of the population was affected in terms of infrastructure, roads, as well as their livelihoods," said General Carlos Villanueva, who was attending a gathering of Central American defense ministers in the US state of Florida. Torrential rains and mudslides in Guatemala have claimed more than 2,000 lives, with hundreds buried alive in the towns of Panabaj and Tzanchaj. The government has appealed for international assistance and Villanueva thanked the United States for providing logistical support. A 60-person team of US military planners and logistics experts were on the ground in Guatemala City to coordinate assistance, which included the loan of up to 15 US helicopters. US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who presided over the meeting of defense ministers in Key Biscayne, Florida, conveyed his sympathy for the victims of the storm as well as the massive earthquake that struck South Asia over the weekend. "All the countries that are present here have been most gracious and generous and cooperative in connection to hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the United States," Rumsfeld said. All rights reserved. © 2005 Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse. Related Links TerraDaily Search TerraDaily Subscribe To TerraDaily Express 
Death Toll From Tropical Storm Stan, Mudslides Tops 2,000
Guatemala City (AFP) Oct 11, 2005The death toll from devastating mudslides in Guatemala topped 2,000 on Tuesday, as rescuers called off their search for hundreds of people buried for six days under solidifying mud. |
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