Deadly quakes hit Guatemala

Published: Sept. 19, 2011 at 11:27 PM


GUATEMALA CITY, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- Guatemala was hit by four earthquakes in succession Monday, the largest measuring a magnitude of 5.8, that left at least one person dead, officials said.

El Periodico reported at least one person, identified as Jesus Floridalma, 38, of Cuilapa, was killed and three others were missing in the Santa Rosa department. Another newspaper, Prensa Libre, said Floridalma was killed when a wall fell on him.

El Periodico said several other people had minor injuries.

Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom said the military, national police, local firefighters and volunteers were converging on the affected communities.

Prensa Libre said a number of homes, schools and other buildings were damaged by the quakes, which also opened large cracks in streets and roads. The tremors led many people to move to emergency shelters or to spend the night outside in open areas.

Margarita Cortez, director of Cuilapa Hospital, said the building structure did not sustain major structural damage but patients were evacuated as a precaution.

Departmental Gov. Mynor Morales said the initial damage assessment was that Cuilapa and Santa María Ixhuatan were the hardest-hit municipalities.

The Central American nation's education minister suspended school activities in the region Monday and Tuesday.

The national communications minister warned people to beware of landslides along roadways.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the first quake, measuring 4.8-magnitude, occurred at 12:01 p.m. local time at a depth of 37.9 miles. The epicenter was 25 miles southeast of Guatemala City and 52 miles west-southwest of Chiquimula.

The second temblor -- the most powerful at 5.8-magnitude -- occurred 33 minutes later at a depth of 24.5 miles, the USGS said. It was centered 32 miles southeast of Guatemala City, 42 miles east of Escuintla and 45 miles west-northwest of Santa Ana, El Salvador.

The third quake came at 1:18 p.m. and registered 4.8-magnitude. It was 22.9 miles deep and centered 31 miles southeast of Guatemala City, 39 miles east off Escuintla and 47 miles west-northwest of Santa Ana.

The fourth shaker at 2:30 p.m. was 4.5-magnitude at a depth of 25.4 miles. It was centered 37 miles east-southeast of Escuintla, 42 miles south-southeast of Guatemala City and 44 miles northwest of Acajutla, El Salvador.

All four were nearly 700 miles east-southeast of Mexico City.


Source: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2011/09/19/Deadly-quakes-hit-Guatemala/UPI-51071316486004/#ixzz1YSil9wCI