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Hundreds feared missing in Guatemala landslide
01:50 - Source: CNN

Story highlights

The death toll rises to 271, according to Guatemala's government

Many more are still missing, the public ministry said

The side of a hill crashed down on a village, engulfing homes

CNN  — 

The gangly arms of four backhoes dug through a mound of sandy soil that had buried many of the residents of El Cambray alive in a landslide.

Many more people are still missing.

Heavy rains triggered the mudslide in El Cambray on Thursday evening. The side of a towering hill broke loose suddenly and crashed down on the village.

On Tuesday, the Red Cross asked for donations of dry ice for its makeshift morgue, where the bodies kept coming.

CNN’s Ben Brumfield, Richard Beltran and Greg Botelho contributed to this report.