Four earthquakes continuously hit southern Guatemala Monday within two and a half hours, causing at least one death, reports said.
A 5.8-magnitude quake, the largest of the three recorded, hit southern Guatemala at 12:34 local time (18:34 GMT) at a depth of 39 kilometers (24.5 miles). The epicenter of the quake was located at 32 miles (53 km) south east of Guatemala's capital in Central America.
The continuous quakes prompted a number of mudslides in the highlands where mountain slopes are saturated after weeks of rain from hurricane activity, Xinhua reported.
Landslides due to earthquakes blocked the main Pan American highway that connects Guatemala with the rest of Central America.
Several people were reportedly injured while many buildings and more than hundred houses in different communities were damaged, said Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom.
The worst damage was reported in Santa Rosa, just southeast of the capital, where at least one woman died after being buried by a landslide and three people were reported missing, said Colom at a news briefing accompanied by the national civil protection service.
Patients are relocated near the exit at a hospital in Cuilapa, in preparation for evacuation during aftershocks after earthquakes struck the region September 19, 2011. Four earthquakes struck southern Guatemala on Monday within 2 1/2 hours, shaking buildings in the capital and killing three people.ReutersA woman reacts after an aftershock in Los Esclavos, 65 km (40 miles) from Guatemala City, September 19, 2011. ReutersA patient eats after he was relocated near the exit at a hospital in Cuilapa, in preparation for evacuation during aftershocks after earthquakes struck the region September 19, 2011. Four earthquakes struck southern Guatemala on Monday within 2 1/2 hours, shaking buildings in the capital and killing three people.ReutersA man is taken to hospital by paramedics after an aftershock in Los Esclavos, 65 km (40 miles) from Guatemala City, September 19, 2011. ReutersPeople run on the road in the town of Cuilapa where there was a landslide due to tremors September 19, 2011. ReutersRefugees take cover from the rain under an improvised shelter at a military zone for people displaced by earthquakes in Cuilapa September 19, 2011. Four earthquakes struck southern Guatemala on Monday within 2 1/2 hours, shaking buildings in the capital and killing three people.ReutersA man is treated by paramedics in his home after an aftershock in Los Esclavos, 65 km (40 miles) from Guatemala City, September 19, 2011.Reuters
