Following a 5.7 magnitude earthquake, five men were accused of looting damaged homes in the Santa Maria de Jesus municipality.
The Guillote River overflowed after the quake, leaving people without shelter or food.
A police spokesperson stated, “Robbery is against the law, and so is lynching.”
Residents of Santa Maria de Jesus municipality confronted the men and stopped authorities from taking them away.
Despite the police’s efforts, the residents beat the men and set them on fire.
Santa Maria de Jesus bore the brunt of the earthquake, which caused tremors of up to 5.7 magnitude and killed at least seven people across the country.
Vigilante justice is a common response to unprosecuted criminals in Guatemala.
From 2008 to 2020, vigilante violence resulted in 361 deaths and 1,396 injuries, according to a local civil society organization.
The earthquake caused power outages and landslides, cutting off access to the Indigenous Mayan community in Santa Maria de Jesus.
To assist the affected residents, the government flew in humanitarian aid, including solar lamps, buckets, mattresses, mosquito nets, blankets, and kitchen kits.
