STORY: Collapsed houses and blocked roads were among the damage caused by a series of earthquakes in Guatemala on Tuesday (July 8), as authorities confirmed there were no fatalities.

Mid-afternoon, a 5.2 quake shook southern Guatemala, around 60 km (37.2 miles) from the capital, Guatemala City, according to the nation's seismological institute, which then registered at least 37 aftershocks ranging from magnitudes of 3.9 to 5.6, President Bernardo Arevalo said.

Arevalo also said in a live press conference that most of the damage was minor, with some adobe houses collapsing and some landslides that blocked roads. In the town of Santa Maria de Jesus, some 49 km from the capital city, footage showed damaged buildings and downed trees.

The president added that at least two trapped people had been rescued, and operations were underway to free another three who were stuck.

The National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED) announced the suspension of classes and activities in public institutions on Wednesday (July 9) in three regions, including Sacatepequez, as squads will assess the damages in these areas.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: COLLAPSED HOUSES / SOUNDBITES FROM VICTIM AND OFFICIAL / RESCUE TEAM DEPLOYED

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: SANTA MARIA DE JESUS, SACATEPEQUEZ, GUATEMALA (JULY 8, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. HOUSE DAMAGED

2. VARIOUS OF DEBRIS ON GROUND AFTER HOUSE PARTLY COLLAPSED

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VICTIM, SONIA ELIZABETH SALOME, SAYING:

“Everything got destroyed inside due to the force: the walls cracked, the floor cracked, and our belongings were destroyed inside. By the grace and mercy of God the houses didn’t collapse, but everything inside got destroyed.”

4. DAMAGED CHURCH

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) OFFICIAL RESPONSIBLE FOR ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT AT CITY HALL, NERY CHAR, SAYING:

“There are a lot of houses destroyed and monuments, practically 600 houses destroyed. The road that leads to Guatemala (City) is totally impassable. In Arena Blanca, everything collapsed.”

6. VARIOUS OF RESCUERS, FIREFIGHTER WALKING ON AREA AFFECTED BY QUAKES

7. DOWNED TREE, LANDSLIDE