Huge Earth Quake Rocks Guatemala and Mexico

07 Jul, 2014

A strong earthquake shook the Guatemalan border with Mexico on Monday, killing at least three people, damaging dozens of buildings and triggering landslides.

The magnitude 7.1 quake struck the Guatemalan border region of San Marcos, which was also hit by a 7.4 magnitude earthquake in November 2012 that killed 48 people.

Cracks opened up in buildings, there were landslides causing roadblocks, and power lines came down in the area after the early morning quake, authorities said. Asked to confirm reports the quake had claimed three lives, Alejandro Maldonado, director of Guatemalan emergency authority CONRED, said: “Yes, unfortunately.”

Luis Rivera, governor of the San Marcos region, said at least 48 homes suffered significant damage in the local town of La Reforma, whose municipal cemetery was also destroyed.

The quake was centered 22 miles (35 km) west-southwest of the city of Tapachula in the Mexican state of Chiapas at a depth of about 47 miles (75 km) the U.S. Geological Survey said. Authorities in Chiapas said there were no immediate reports of major damage. The quake was also felt in El Salvador.

Reuters

Image AFP

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