Magnitude 6.8 earthquake hits Guatemala, El Salvador


A major earthquake struck off the coast of Guatemala on Thursday, shaking buildings and downing trees and causing powerful tremors in neighboring El Salvador.

There were no immediate reports of casualties from the quake, which the U.S. Geological Survey said registered at 6.8 magnitude and struck 38 kilometers (24 miles) southwest of Puerto San Jose at a depth of 46.8 kilometers.

A deeper earthquake of similar magnitude struck the interior of Guatemala last week, killing at least two people and damaging buildings.

Guatemalan emergency services said they were assessing the impact.

Luis Felipe Puente, the head of Mexico's civil protection authority, told Reuters the quake was felt in the state of Chiapas on the Guatemalan border, but said there were no initial reports of damage.