ABSTRACT
El Salvador is the smallest but most densely populated country of Central America, sandwiched between Guatemala to the northwest, Honduras to the northeast, Nicaragua to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Despite its size, there are several volcanoes within El Salvador’s borders that are said to be active at times. On January 13, 2001, an earthquake of the magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter scale hit El Salvador. As an immediate consequence, a hilltop water tower toppled and caused the massive movement of mud to pour down the hill, covering a whole community within the Las Colinas section of San Salvador. Anything and anyone in its path was buried within seconds. Transportation is by pickup truck. Twenty or more people can be seen standing in a tight squeeze, as in a New York subway during rush hour, except they are riding in the back of a pickup.
