Series of Earthquakes Strike Guatemala City Area, Trigger Evacuations

A series of earthquakes struck near Guatemala City on July 8, 2025, with magnitudes ranging from 2.8 to 5.7, causing injuries, structural damage, and landslides. The strongest quake, measuring 5.7, hit near Amatitlán, about 3 miles from Guatemala City, followed by nearly 40 aftershocks including a 4.8 magnitude tremor. President Bernardo Arévalo reported that five people were buried by landslides, with two rescued and hospitalized, and several homes made from sun-dried blocks sustaining damage. Authorities suspended classes and work in affected departments to assess damage, while emergency shelters were opened for displaced families. Despite some minor building damage and cracks, no major collapses or widespread serious injuries were reported, though officials urged residents to evacuate buildings as a precaution against further aftershocks. Guatemala's location in the Pacific Ring of Fire makes it prone to such seismic activity, with historical earthquakes causing significant devastation in the past.