Several houses in Guatemala City were swept away by the strong current of a river following heavy rain, killing at least six people, authorities said on Tuesday.

Some 12 more people were missing, the National Emergency Management Agency of the Central American country (CONRED) said.

Earlier, the local fire brigade had said one of the victims was a five-year-old girl.

According to authorities, the Las Vacas River, which overflowed its banks, washed away at least six houses under the El Naranjo bridge in the early hours of Monday.

Rescue workers searched for the missing in the mud along a 15-kilometre stretch of the river, radio station Emisoras Unidas reported.

“After the tragedy in the settlement of Dios Es Fiel caused by flooding, I express my deep concern and solidarity with the affected families,” President Alejandro Giammattei said.

Mr Giammattei wrote this on social media platform X, adding that 94 rescue workers had been deployed.

Guatemala is the most populous country in Central America, with 18 million inhabitants.

Thunderstorms there often cause landslides and floods in the rainy season, with many fatalities.

(dpa/NAN)