A major earthquake measuring 6.2 in magnitude has struck Guatemala reducing buildings to rubble. According to reports, the quake struck the Central American nation on Wednesday morning, with the epicenter in Nueva Concepción, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said.
It was at a depth of 96 km (60 miles), EMSC said. The initial tremor was felt at 1.12 am local time, before two aftershocks followed at 1.50 am and 1.56 am, measuring 5 and 4.8, according to reports.
An image of a car having been crushed by falling debris from a collapsing building was taken in Totonicapán city this morning. While other snaps show rocks having fallen across a road and emergency workers digging through the rubble.
Daños en #Guatemala tras terremoto fuerte de magnitud 6.2 todos se encontraban durmiendo! #sismo #lindol #earthquake pic.twitter.com/ucOC5Yj4Co
— Movisis Fenomenós Naturales (@MOVISISEC) February 16, 2022
Eyewitnesses stated: Strong shaking with loud rumbling. Trees and power poles swaying. Cracking of structures and sounds of structural collapse heard. Interior furniture seen to shake and move.
Woken up by room swinging side to side (east to west) gently at first but quite strongly towards the end. Strong shaking with the entire house seeming to move up, down, and sideways.
We ran outside and took refuge in our car. Lights and wifi still on Very strong shaking. Light fixtures swinging. Ran outside with daughter. Serious earthquake. It was the strongest quake I have experienced in my 32 years in Guatemala. Fuego Volcano has been active with explosions earlier Tuesday night.
