. . . the mud-caked, boulder-laden moonscape covering the school, general store, houses, and the people of a community that once existed at the base of the Casita volcano, all covered by the mud which came cascading from the volcano’s crater which burst after five days of torrential rain, mud now dried with deep cracks as if those below still sought to breath the air above or to offer calming words to their surviving loved ones . . .

A remembrance for loved ones lost at El Casita		New life emerges
	PeaceWorks’ delegation members and friends from Masaya Without Frontiers take a moment to rest and reflect after spending a few hours in the area of the El Casita tragedy

One can see how the river of mud and water came down El Casita, a dormant volcano in the Nicaraguan municipality of Posoltega, from the above picture which shows the mud-caked scar down the volcano’s slope burying the settlements below, sending a wall of water over the land and through arroyos already swollen with water from five days of torrential rains. Nothing remains of the houses, the stores, schools, and the homes that once populated this area. Survivors live in refugee camps, mourning the loss of 2,000 family members, friends, neighbors.

These three photos above show the extent of erosion caused by the rushing water that swept away all highway bridges down river on its way to the ocean. This arroyo now serves as a dusty road in the dry season, enabling people still living in the area to travel to market. The photo to the right show people coming from and going to local markets, a long arduous journey even without carrying huge loads of bread, produce, or other items.