Earthquake in Guatemala: More than 40 people dead

USPA NEWS - Earthquake in Guatemala: More than 40 people dead at the 7.4 magnitude earthquake, killing at least 48 people were killed. President Perez exclaimed the highest alert level for the whole of Guatemala.

Off the coast of Guatemala on Wednesday has a severe earthquake of magnitude 7.4 occurred. At least 48 people were killed, 155 were injured. 23 people are still missing. In District San Marcos at least 130 homes were destroyed. Otto Perez Molina, president exclaimed the highest alert level for the whole of Guatemala and gave the armed forces in readiness. In case of an aftershock, he completed a tsunami warning is not enough.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre announced there was a risk of a local tsunami near the center of the quake. A warning for the region has not been published. The earthquake was located according to the U.S. seismological USGS on Wednesday morning (local time) occurred under the sea at a depth of 41.6 kilometers. The epicenter was located 24 kilometers southwest of the Guatemalan therefore Champerico city and 163 kilometers southwest of Guatemala City.

In the towns of San Pedro Sacatepequez, El Recuerdo, San Francisco, El Quetzal and other numerous houses collapsed or were damaged. Also, in the neighboring department of Quetzaltenango broke the most built of mud houses collapsed. Sun reported rescuers from Concepcion Chiquirichapa, there were ten people have been buried. Four of them were found dead.

Roads were blocked by landslides, more than 2,000 soldiers were used for rescue work. According to Perez, there were five aftershocks. The tremors were also felt in Mexico City and San Salvador, capital of El Salvador.