Nobody breaths underground

Tragedies and natural disasters have followed Guatemalan people for decades. It was 9:30pm on Thursday, October 1, 2015, when a catastrophic landslide triggered by heavy rains, completely buried hundreds of homes and families in the village of El Cambray II in Santa Catarina Pinula, located approximately 30 miles outside of Guatemala City. The estimated number of deaths was 280, with 70 missing, 472 affected and 445 evacuated.

According to the United Nations, Guatemala has the highest risk of natural disasters in Latin America due to its terrain and climate. With more than half of Guatemala’s population living below the national poverty line, many vulnerable families are unable to afford to build their homes securely and away from danger-prone areas.