On Monday, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake shook the border between Mexico and Guatemala resulting in landslides, mudslides, and damaged buildings. According to reports, a newborn baby and three others were killed during the incident. Dozens were also injured.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake hit at about 7:23 am ET. The quake was 37 miles deep. Although the initial report indicated a magnitude of 7.1, it was lowered to 6.9 hours later.
Guatemalan President Otto Perez said that the earthquake caused moderate damage. Two deaths were reported in San Rafael Pie de la Cuesta in San Marcos. A newborn baby died at a hospital in San Marcos where the ceiling collapsed. Another reported death was a woman who had a heart attack, but it is still unclear if the heart attack was caused by the earthquake.
NEW: USGS: Preliminary magnitude 7.1 earthquake strikes near Mexico-Guatemala border. pic.twitter.com/RLtwHMEr5r
— ABC Foreign Desk (@WorldNews) July 7, 2014
More than 30 people were reportedly injured, many of them sustained head injuries. About 80 homes were damaged in the area and half of them were completely destroyed. A total of 36 people in San Sebastian Huehuetenango were evacuated from their homes.
San Marcos Governor Luis Rivera said, “This quake was pretty strong. There are houses destroyed.” He also said that families panicked because of a similar incident that happened two years ago. In 2012, a 7.4 magnitude earthquake also hit the San Marcos region killing 48 people.
FOTO: Daños en la infraestructura en San Pedro Sacatepequez, San Marcos, @CBMDEPTAL continua con los monitoreos pic.twitter.com/uhs3elwhsd
— BMunicipalesDeptales (@CBMDEPTAL) July 7, 2014
Aeropuerto de Tapachula @CarlosLoret @SinEmbargoMX @LaJornada @AztecaNoticias @CNNMex @CNN pic.twitter.com/zMaup4gzyF
— Tap.Centro Historico (@TapachulaCentro) July 7, 2014
News outlets in Mexico reported that the areas most severely hit were the states of Tabasco and Chiapas. Reports said that two people died in Chiapas, including a man who was killed when a wall collapsed on him. In the town of La Reforma, 48 homes were damaged; the cemetery was destroyed as well.
Survivor Claudia Gonzales of Chiapas said, “I thought the house was going to collapse.” When she felt the quake, she ran into the streets carrying her one-year-old daughter.
Image via YouTube
