According to the reports on Wednesday (9 July), a series of earthquakes struck Guatemala, with the strongest tremor reaching a magnitude of 5.6. The quakes were centered near the towns of Amatitlán and Alotenango, located southwest of the capital. The tremors caused alarm across the region, prompting building evacuations in Guatemala City where anti-earthquake sirens blared.
Tragically, two people lost their lives when a landslide triggered by the quakes buried their vehicle under rocks and earth on a highway near Antigua Guatemala in the central highlands. Andrés Erazo, spokesperson for the national disaster coordination agency (Conred), confirmed the fatalities and the cause of the landslide.
President Bernardo Arévalo reported that a family of five was trapped due to the landslide and was in the process of being rescued. In addition, two individuals who were rescued earlier were receiving treatment for their injuries. Emergency services responded quickly to assess damage and aid those affected.
The tremors were also felt in neighboring El Salvador, highlighting the regional impact of the seismic activity. Central America frequently experiences earthquakes because of the shifting Caribbean and Cocos tectonic plates. The incident serves as another reminder of the region’s vulnerability to natural disasters.
References
Guatemala Earthquakes Trigger Fatal Landslide and Panic Across Central Highlands
