Strong Quake Off Guatemala Sends People Rushing From Homes

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Guatemala was devastated in February 1976 when a magnitude 7.5 quake struck 160 kilometers (100 miles) northeast of Guatemala City, killing 23,000 people, causing houses to collapse and triggering landslides that cut off numerous roads.

by Staff Writers
Guatemala City (AFP) June 13, 2007
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck off Guatemala's Pacific coast Wednesday, causing panic in the Central American country although there were no immediate reports of casualties. The quake, which struck at 1:29 pm (1929 GMT) was also felt in neighboring El Salvador, where employees rushed out of buildings to seek safety in open spaces.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or of significant damage.

The US Geological Survey said the quake occurred offshore at a depth of 64 kilometers (40 miles), 115 kilometers (70 miles) southwest of Guatemala City, and 135 kilometers (85 miles) west-southwest of Santa Ana, El Salvador.

The US National Weather Service said there was no threat of a large, damaging tsunami hitting Guatemala's coast or any other, "based on historical earthquake and tsunami data."

"However, earthquakes of this size sometimes generate local tsunamis that can be destructive along coasts within a hundred kilometers (60 miles) of the epicenter.

"Authorities in the region of the epicenter should be aware of this possibility and take appropriate action," the service said.

The intensity reading of 6.8 is based on the Moment Magnitude scale, now used by US seismologists, which measures the area of the fault that ruptured and the total energy released.

A measurement of 6.0 or higher indicates a strong quake, while seven and above indicates a major quake.

The earthquake caused panic in southern Guatemala where residents rushed out of their homes, fearing the walls and roofs could collapse.

Guatemala has coasts on both sides of the narrow Central American continent, part of the "ring of fire," a concentration of geological activity, volcanoes and earthquakes around the Pacific Ocean.

The country was devastated in February 1976 when a magnitude 7.5 quake struck 160 kilometers (100 miles) northeast of Guatemala City, killing 23,000 people, causing houses to collapse and triggering landslides that cut off numerous roads.

Thousands of aftershocks from the 1976 quake caused additional damage and death, hindering electricity repair and supplies of food and water while thousands remained homeless.

Source: Agence France-Presse

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