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| Guatemalan president warns earthquake death toll likely to rise | Guatemalan president warns earthquake death toll likely to rise |
| (8 days later) | |
| The death toll in Guatemala's worst earthquake since 1976 has risen to 52 people, and many of the 22 still missing are not expected to be found alive, said President Otto Pérez Molina. | The death toll in Guatemala's worst earthquake since 1976 has risen to 52 people, and many of the 22 still missing are not expected to be found alive, said President Otto Pérez Molina. |
| He said the powerful 7.4-magnitude quake that hit on Wednesday morning off the Pacific coast affected up to 1.2m people as it shook nearly the entire country. He said about 700 people were in shelters, with most opting to stay with family or friends. | He said the powerful 7.4-magnitude quake that hit on Wednesday morning off the Pacific coast affected up to 1.2m people as it shook nearly the entire country. He said about 700 people were in shelters, with most opting to stay with family or friends. |
| "They have no drinking water, no electricity, no communication and are in danger of experiencing more aftershocks," Pérez told a news conference. The president said there had been 70 aftershocks in the first 24 hours after the quake, some as strong as magnitude 4.9. | "They have no drinking water, no electricity, no communication and are in danger of experiencing more aftershocks," Pérez told a news conference. The president said there had been 70 aftershocks in the first 24 hours after the quake, some as strong as magnitude 4.9. |
| Damaged homes are among the biggest problems facing the country, Pérez added. | Damaged homes are among the biggest problems facing the country, Pérez added. |
| In San Marcos, the worst affected area with at least 40 deaths, people fearing aftershocks huddled in the streets. | In San Marcos, the worst affected area with at least 40 deaths, people fearing aftershocks huddled in the streets. |
| Rescuers continued to dig at a huge mound of sand at a quarry trying to rescue seven people. "We started rescue work very early," said Julio Cesar Fuentes of the local fire department. "The objective is our hope to find people who were buried." | Rescuers continued to dig at a huge mound of sand at a quarry trying to rescue seven people. "We started rescue work very early," said Julio Cesar Fuentes of the local fire department. "The objective is our hope to find people who were buried." |
| But they uncovered only one more body, that of one of the quarry workers. The worker's son was called to identify him. When he climbed into the sand pit and recognized the clothing, the man collapsed onto the shoulders of firefighters, crying: "Papa, Papa, Papa." | But they uncovered only one more body, that of one of the quarry workers. The worker's son was called to identify him. When he climbed into the sand pit and recognized the clothing, the man collapsed onto the shoulders of firefighters, crying: "Papa, Papa, Papa." |
| He and his father were not identified to the media because other relatives had not been notified of the death. | He and his father were not identified to the media because other relatives had not been notified of the death. |
| Residents venturing outside into the morning cold found the city paralysed and businesses closed. | Residents venturing outside into the morning cold found the city paralysed and businesses closed. |
| In the town of San Cristobal Cochu, firefighters picked at a collapsed house trying to dig out 10 members of one family, including a four-year-old child, who were buried, fire department spokesman Ovidio Perez told the radio station Emisoras Unidas. | In the town of San Cristobal Cochu, firefighters picked at a collapsed house trying to dig out 10 members of one family, including a four-year-old child, who were buried, fire department spokesman Ovidio Perez told the radio station Emisoras Unidas. |
| Volunteers carrying boxes of medical supplies began arriving in the area in western Guatemala late on Wednesday. | Volunteers carrying boxes of medical supplies began arriving in the area in western Guatemala late on Wednesday. |
| Eblin Cifuentes, a 26-year-old law student, and his classmates were already collecting medical supplies as part of a school drive to provide aid for the only hospital in San Marcos, a poor, mainly indigenous mountain area of subsistence farms. When the quake hit, the group decided to bring everything they had collected. | Eblin Cifuentes, a 26-year-old law student, and his classmates were already collecting medical supplies as part of a school drive to provide aid for the only hospital in San Marcos, a poor, mainly indigenous mountain area of subsistence farms. When the quake hit, the group decided to bring everything they had collected. |
| "Thank God nothing happened to us and that's why we have to help out," Cifuentes said. | "Thank God nothing happened to us and that's why we have to help out," Cifuentes said. |
| The quake caused terror over an unusually wide area, with damage reported in all but one of Guatemala's 22 states and tremors felt up to 600 miles away in Mexico City. | The quake caused terror over an unusually wide area, with damage reported in all but one of Guatemala's 22 states and tremors felt up to 600 miles away in Mexico City. |
| In San Marcos, more than 30 homes were damaged and many of the colourful adobe buildings in its centre were either cracked or reduced to rubble, including the police station and the courthouse. Hundreds of frightened townspeople stayed in the open, refusing to go back inside after more than five strong aftershocks shook the area. | In San Marcos, more than 30 homes were damaged and many of the colourful adobe buildings in its centre were either cracked or reduced to rubble, including the police station and the courthouse. Hundreds of frightened townspeople stayed in the open, refusing to go back inside after more than five strong aftershocks shook the area. |
| Eight were killed in the neighbouring state of Quetzaltenango. | Eight were killed in the neighbouring state of Quetzaltenango. |
| Hundreds crammed into San Marcos's small hospital, the only building left with electricity, seeking help for injured family members. Some complained they were not getting care quickly enough. | Hundreds crammed into San Marcos's small hospital, the only building left with electricity, seeking help for injured family members. Some complained they were not getting care quickly enough. |
| Ingrid Lopez, who bought in her 72-year-old aunt whose legs were crushed by a falling wall, said she had waited hours for an x-ray. "We ask the president to improve conditions at the hospital," she said. "There isn't enough staff." | Ingrid Lopez, who bought in her 72-year-old aunt whose legs were crushed by a falling wall, said she had waited hours for an x-ray. "We ask the president to improve conditions at the hospital," she said. "There isn't enough staff." |
| Efrain Ramos helped load a tiny casket carrying the body of his six-year-old niece from the San Marcos morgue to a waiting pickup truck. | Efrain Ramos helped load a tiny casket carrying the body of his six-year-old niece from the San Marcos morgue to a waiting pickup truck. |
| "The little girl died when a wall fell over her," said Ramos. He said the girl was playing in her room when the quake hit. | "The little girl died when a wall fell over her," said Ramos. He said the girl was playing in her room when the quake hit. |
| Sobbing uncontrollably, the girl's mother hugged the coffin wrapped with white lace and tulle. | Sobbing uncontrollably, the girl's mother hugged the coffin wrapped with white lace and tulle. |
| Ramos said the family would escort his niece Rosa's body back home for a viewing. | Ramos said the family would escort his niece Rosa's body back home for a viewing. |
| The quake, which was 20 miles deep, was centred 15 miles off the coastal town of Champerico and 100 miles southwest of Guatemala City. It was the strongest earthquake to hit Guatemala since the disaster in 1976 when 23,000 died. | The quake, which was 20 miles deep, was centred 15 miles off the coastal town of Champerico and 100 miles southwest of Guatemala City. It was the strongest earthquake to hit Guatemala since the disaster in 1976 when 23,000 died. |
| The president said more than 2,000 soldiers had been deployed to help with the crisis. A plane had made at least two trips to carry relief teams to the area. | The president said more than 2,000 soldiers had been deployed to help with the crisis. A plane had made at least two trips to carry relief teams to the area. |
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