Yes, in Solola and Xela there are many deaths but we still do not know how many in other parts of the country because the press is unable to travel to other parts since there are many mudslides affecting travel by highway.  There is no telephone communication on landlines or cell phones, yesterday there was a terrible rain storm in some parts and it continues to rain and they say there is another hurricane approaching. It is such a shame what is happening in all parts of Guatemala.  The areas most affected are in the departments of Solola, Quetzaltenango, and Chimaltenango La Costa (south by the ports)

Sometimes there are telephone signals and other times there are none.  I have been trying to email all day today.

I have been unable to communicate with Santiago Atitlan, San Marcos, San Pedro, Xetonox, and Aguas Calientes since the phones are not working.  I hope all our artisans are okay. In Santiago Atitlan there are many artisans that live in the folds of the mountains and we hope that there are no mudslides that affected them, because the information that we have received says that there have been many mudslides in the town of Santiago, also San Pedro La Laguna, and San Marcos.

In Tecpan there are also many mudslides. We hope that there have been no problems in Xetonox,

In Antigua Guatemala the same thing is happening. I have communicated with Marcela and she told me that they are okay but they commented that they have not worked for the last 2 days because there is a lot of water in their house and in their neighbor’s homes. It did not affect her as much as her neighbors and they are helping their neighbors in getting the water out of their houses .  

Marco has some artisans that weave fabric in Jocopilas de Quiche, Nahual and Solola . We know nothing of them and he has been unable to go to see them since there is no access to the communities.

They say that in other parts of the country there are tremors and just 3 minutes ago the earth started to tremble here in Chimaltenango.  This is a critical situation that is happening in Guatemala. The people don’t have food to eat, clean water to drink, and places for shelter.

Thank God that in Comalapa we have not been affected severely, but the majority of the corn crops and other crops have been lost to the strong rains. I have not heard of any mudslides in Comalapa, and I hope that the women in Aguas Calientes are okay as well.

I hope to be able to communicate with you soon, take care, Mirna.