A Night of Terror: Earthquakes Strike Without Warning
On July 8, 2025, Guatemala was rocked by a 5.6 magnitude earthquake that turned into a nightmare. Two people died instantly when huge rocks fell on their vehicle in Escuintla, crushing them on a local road. But that was just the beginning.
Within hours, dozens of earthquakes and aftershocks—ranging from 3.0 to 5.7—shook the country. Edwin Rodas, Director of the National Institute of Seismology, Vulcanology, Meteorology, and Hydrology, confirmed 37 earthquakes in one afternoon. The tremors were so strong they were felt in El Salvador, forcing evacuations, triggering landslides, and causing minor property damage.
The Worst-Hit Areas: Escuintla, Sacatepéquez, and Guatemala City
The epicenter was near Sacatepéquez, but the worst destruction hit Escuintla and the Guatemala department. Five people were buried under rubble, with only two rescued alive. Firefighters worked tirelessly, pulling victims from collapsed homes and clearing roads blocked by debris.
In San Vicente Pacaya, a 5.7 magnitude quake struck just 3 kilometers northwest of the town at 3:41 PM local time. The US Geological Survey (USGS) reported a depth of 10 km, making it a shallow earthquake—more destructive near the surface. Preliminary reports confirmed 6 fatalities and 7 injuries, with dozens of homes suffering severe structural damage.
Government Response: Orange Alert and Rescue Efforts
Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo declared an orange alert—the second-highest emergency level. At a press conference, he confirmed the fourth death: a woman found buried in debris south of Guatemala’s capital, along with her dog. Volunteer firefighters later recovered the body of a 13-year-old boy in Sacatepequez department.
The National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction warned of economic losses but estimated they’d stay below 1% of Guatemala’s GDP. The USGS issued a Yellow alert for economic losses and a Green alert for shaking-related fatalities, meaning the worst was localized but not nationwide.
Survivors’ Stories: Sleeping in the Streets
In Palín, Elvia Morataya and her family slept outside their damaged home as aftershocks continued. “The foundation is cracked—we can’t go back inside,” she said. Across affected areas, families camped on streets, fearing more crumbled walls.
Scientific Breakdown: Why This Quake Was Different
- Magnitude variations: From M4.8 foreshocks to M5.7 main shocks, the seismic activity was relentless.
- Shallow depth (10 km): Made the shaking stronger near the epicenter.
- Populations affected: 974,000 felt strong shaking, while 7.8 million experienced light tremors.
- Global monitoring: The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) and German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) tracked the quake in real-time.
