6.2 magnitude earthquake in Guatemala leaves destruction in its wake
- A 6.2 Earthquake hit Guatemala on Wednesday
- The earthquake happened at a depth of 100 kilometres
- Heavy damage has been reported in nearby areas
A strong earthquake measuring 6.2 in magnitude struck the Central American nation of Guatemala on Wednesday, reportedly reducing many buildings to rubble.
While the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED), Guatemala’s disaster agency, pegged the earthquake at 6.8, other seismological research centres clarified that the earthquake measured 6.2.
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As per the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), the 6.2 quake took place at 7.12am UTC at a depth of around 100 kilometres. The epicentre of the quake was located 47 kilometres west-south-west from Escuintla, and 16km east of Tiquisate in the Central American nation.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) also confirmed the 6.2 quake.
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Further, as per the EMSC, the 6.2 quake was also followed by two aftershocks, both measuring above 4 in the Richter scale.
While details are scant at the moment, reports suggest that nearby areas took heavy damage from the earthquake, leaving buildings completely destroyed.
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As per a report by the Mirror, images circulated on social media showed a car being crushed by falling debris from a collapsing building in the city of Totonicapán in Guatemala.
Elsewhere in the country, social media images and videos showed rockslides decimating roads and emergency workers trying to clear the rubble.
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Reuters also reported that the quake had caused rockfalls and uprooted trees in areas near the epicentre of the quake, but as of the time of writing this, no reports of injuries or deaths have emerged.
As per seismological centres, the quake was also felt in El Salvador and Mexico, but at the moment, the extent of damage in those countries is not clear.
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