Guatemala City: At least 42 people have died in mudslides that followed heavy rains in Guatemala, local media reported Sunday.

Fifteen people were killed in one mudslide alone on the Pan-American Highway near Guatemala City. According to eyewitness reports Sunday, numerous other people had been buried.

Rescuers searching for survivors reportedly were caught and submerged in new mudslides. By late Sunday, at least 21 bodies had been recovered.

Officials said the Pan-American Highway is impassable, blocked by mudslides in several areas.

At least 24,000 people have reportedly been evacuated. Rains, floods and mudslides have affected 30,000 people in different regions of the country, with 10 rivers threatening to overflow.

The heavy rains caused flooding in neighbouring Central American countries and southern Mexico, killing dozens of people over the last few days. Forty people had been reported dead in Nicaragua by the weekend and 20 dead in Honduras.

BDST:  0952 HRS, September 06, 2010