Guatemala has experienced a major tremor and two aftershocks
A major earthquake of 6.2 magnitude on the Richter scale hit Guatemala overnight on Wednesday. Footage shared on social media showed collapsed buildings in the Central American nation, with falling debris having damaged vehicles and landslides hitting many routes, forcing emergency workers to be deployed to clear roads.
The first tremor was felt at 1:12 am local time (7:12 am GMT). Two aftershocks were reported around forty minutes later, with a respective magnitude of 5 and 4.8.
The epicenter of the earthquake was reported at a depth of 96 kilometers in the Guatemalan city of Nueva Concepción, according to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC).
Heavy #Damage in #Guatemala after Powerful 6.2-Magnitude #Earthquake Hits #Guatemala! #sismo #lindol #earthquake #Landslides #Sismo #Guatemala #BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/H8FsLVnTUP
— Chaudhary Parvez (@ChaudharyParvez) February 16, 2022
Cae pared en la finca Retana San Bartolome Becerra, Aldea de la Antigua Guatemala.#EUXela pic.twitter.com/nQM8YNowhW
— EUXela 91.1 (@EU_Xela) February 16, 2022
Guatemala 🔴 Se registran daños En la estación 100 Compañía de Bomberos en Ciudad San Cristóbal, Mixco, Guatemala. se reportan daños estructurales. pic.twitter.com/3DsNsoIg45
— 🅸🅽🅵🅾🆂🅸🆂🅼🅾🅻🅾🅶🅸🅲 (@EarthquakeChil1) February 16, 2022
It is not currently known whether any injuries or fatalities were caused by the earthquake.
SOLOLÁ. El sismo registrado en horas de la madrugada causa desprendimiento de tierra en el kilómetro 164 CA-1 jurisdicción de Nahualá, Sololá. Se coordina con la Zona Vial No.5 de Caminos para las acciones de limpieza.
Créditos: Cristian Rodríguez, Delegado de Sololá. pic.twitter.com/r34swUta3W
— CONRED (@ConredGuatemala) February 16, 2022
The tremors on Wednesday come days after Guatemala was hit by 15 tremors in 24 hours. On Sunday, the Central American nation experienced lighter quakes, measuring from 3.2 to 5 on the Richter scale.
On that occasion, the country’s National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction confirmed no injuries or building damage was reported.
Powerful 6.2-Magnitude #Earthquake Hits #Guatemala.#Landslides are reported on the Cito-180 route, in the jurisdiction of Quetzaltenango.#Sismo #Guatemala #BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/Z8rKckGQhV
— Chaudhary Parvez (@ChaudharyParvez) February 16, 2022
Guatemala is susceptible to earthquakes due to its location at the point where three tectonic plates, the Caribbean, Cocos and North American, converge.
Source: RT