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📍 Guatemala City — July 9, 2025
A powerful magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck southern Guatemala on July 8 at 15:41 local time, causing at least six fatalities, multiple injuries, and widespread structural damage across several departments. The quake, registered at a shallow depth of 10 km, was centered near San Vicente Pacaya, close to the towns of Amatitlán and Palín in Escuintla Department.
🏚️ Casualties and Damage
- Six confirmed deaths, including a father and son killed by a rockslide and a woman buried in a landslide in Villa Nueva
- Seven+ injuries reported, with emergency rescues underway
- Over 64 homes damaged, including 46 severely damaged or destroyed
- A historic church in Santa María de Jesús and multiple adobe structures sustained major damage
- In Guatemala City, one building collapsed and another was structurally compromised
🌋 Seismic Activity and Alerts The quake was preceded by a magnitude 4.8 foreshock and followed by several aftershocks, including another M4.8 tremor. The USGS issued a Green alert for fatalities and a Yellow alert for economic losses, estimating damage at less than 1% of Guatemala’s GDP.
🚨 Emergency Response The National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED) activated national emergency protocols and declared an orange alert for Escuintla, Sacatepéquez, and Guatemala departments. Schools and workplaces were suspended to facilitate damage assessments. Military engineers assisted in debris removal and search operations.
📡 Infrastructure Impact Landslides disrupted road access, and electricity, phone, and internet services were interrupted in areas near the epicenter. The quake was attributed to the reactivation of the Jalpatagua Fault, part of the tectonic boundary between the Cocos and Caribbean Plates.
