The first waves of Central Americans in a huge migrant caravan have begun arriving in the southern Mexico town of Huixtla after an exhausting eight-hour walk.
Services are overwhelmed in the small town of Huixtla Mexico. Thousands going to overnight here and rest up before marching another 25 miles tomorrow. Dozens evacuated to local hospitals.… https://t.co/9mn1bpeyQ4
— Matt Gutman (@mattgutmanABC) October 23, 2018
KGUN9 spoke to ABC News reporter Matt Gutman, who is traveling with the group. Gutman said the migrants are making an arduous journey.
He said Mexican authorities will decide whether to allow the group to continue its trek or block it at some point
The first to arrive are quickly staking out grassy spots in the town square where they will sleep Monday night.
Marlon Anibal Castellanos is a 27-year-old former bus driver from San Pedro Sula in Honduras. He roped a bit of plastic tarp to a tree to shelter his wife, 6-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter.
Castellanos says the family walked for six hours until they could go no farther and then paid a passing van 25 pesos ($12) to take them the rest of the way.
He says there are no ambulances if the kids should pass out in the heat and no medical care to speak of in the middle of the countryside.
In his words: "It's hard to travel with children."
