Deserted and sodden waterfront at Santiago Atitlan just hours before the saturated mountains collapsed and mudslides buried hundreds at the neighbouring village of Panabaj.
Gilly Pembroke arrives at Santiago Atitlan. Relentless rain
has been falling for days on end.
Normally blue, Lake Atitlan's volcanoes trapped in the rainbelt grip of Hurricane Stan.
Tuesday
4th October 4.30pm
First signs of trouble. Only road back to hotel blocked. Weather worsening.
Gilly Pembroke (before the disaster).
Tuesday
4th October 5.00pm
Weather closing in. Anxiety in Kate's face. Last remaining boatman was persuaded to take us back across stormy lake to reach our hotel in fading light.
Wednesday
5th October.
First evidence of devastation. Mouth of river at Panajachel.
A slice of Panajachel town, half a mile wide, was washed away by the river and mud.
Helpless and waiting for rescue on the side of an unstable mountain.
Wednesday 5th October, 2.00pm
3rd evacuation to a safer location. Grim faced and tired - surveying the enormity of the devastation.
Wednesday 5th October Road to our hotel.
Wednesday 5th October Village of San Catarina, next to our hotel.
Waiting. A brief break in the rain.
Friday
7th October 6.00am
At last helicopter rescue.
Friday 7th October Panajachel - a huge slice of the town is missing.
Panajachel (as seen from the helicopter).
January 06
January 2006 First meeting with farmers in the remote village of Potrerillo, outside their school.
Maya women in Paraxquin.
This lady lost 33 members of her family.
Houses half buried at San Marcos La Laguna.
Panajachel - the main bridge was washed away by the torrent of mud and water sweeping down the valley.
Our drug donation being accepted by the pharmacy.
Panabaj - a wasteland covering hundreds of bodies and houses.
