73 killed in Guatemala landslide; hundreds may be missing

Hundreds missing in Guatemala landslide, authorities say 00:48

Story highlights

• Authorities estimate 600 people are missing
• The side of a hill crashed down on homes

(CNN)—At least 73 people are dead and many more are missing after a massive landslide covered much of a town in Guatemala, according to the nation's Public Ministry.

The rain-soaked side of a hill crashed down onto El Cambray, burying dozens of homes, said Alejandro Maldonado, National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction.

Dozens of rescue workers and volunteers searched all day Friday in the mud and debris for survivors and victims.

"The figure we are using as potentially missing -- and I want to emphasize that this is an estimate -- is of 600 people missing," Maldonado said. Many people in El Cambray did not heed a warning to evacuate, he said.