Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News

Video Credit: CEN

This is the moment a huge chunk of land with houses built on it plummets down a cliff as onlookers scream.

The incident took place in the settlement of Nuevo Amanecer, in Ciudad Peronia, in Villa Nueva, central Guatemala and was recorded by onlookers.

In the video, chunks of the cliff can be seen falling when a huge section with houses at the top is sent plummeting.

Onlookers can be heard screaming as the houses fall with the landslide.

Video Credit: CEN/@EdwinEscobarGT

According to the National Coordinator for the Reduction of Disasters (Coordinadora Nacional para la Reduccion de Desastres; CONRED), the incident took place on Monday and left two houses totally destroyed and eight more damaged.

David de Leon, spokesman for CONRED, told local media that 40 people were affected as they were evacuated from their homes as preventive measures. No injuries were reported.

Those affected were taken in by relatives and neighbours, local media reported.

Edwin Escobar, the Mayor of Villa Nueva wrote on social media: “Since the beginning of our municipal management we have declared the sector of El Regalito de Dios and the surroundings in Ciudad Peronia, including Nueva Esperanza, as a red alert.”

David de Leon said the landslide is advancing and said it is unclear where the landslide could reach as “it could keep falling” in the following days.

CONRED have prohibited residents from going to the affected area.

An investigation has been launched into the incident. Reports suggest heavy rainfall could be to blame for the landslide but the investigation is ongoing.

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