Guatemala City, Jan 18 (IANS): Guatemalan security forces clashed with a US-bound caravan of some 8,000 Honduran migrants crossing the country, authorities said.

The incident took place on Sunday in Vado Hondo, Chiquimula, 177 km east of Guatemala City, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to the Guatemalan Director General of Migration, Guillermo Diaz, the confrontation between migrants and security forces was a "pitched battle", but the situation was eventually brought under control.

Local media reported that the confrontation included the use of tear gas to disperse those trying to continue on the route to Mexico.

According to Diaz, the caravan had been infiltrated by members of Honduran gangs.

Diaz said that there were reports of about 6,000 people in Guatemala attempting to reach the Mexican border, and from there to travel to the US.

On Saturday night, Guatemalan authorities intercepted 992 migrants at the border, some of whom were detained and others deported to Honduras.

According to a CNN report, in October 2020 the first major US-bound migrant caravan since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic left San Pedro Sula, Honduras and crossed into Guatemala with an estimated 1,500 to 2,800 people.

Crossings at the US-Mexico border plunged during 2020 lockdowns.

Apprehensions in the month of April hit the lowest mark in years, with approximately 17,100.

Since then, apprehensions have steadily climbed, with roughly 70,000 each in the months of October, November and December 2020, according to US Customs and Border Protection statistics.