Guatemala Earthquake

I am posting 2 articles regarding the Earthquake that happened yesterday just off the coast of Guatemala. Upon hearing about it (at 4:20 EST - 2:20 Guatemalan time) - I called down to Wendy's house and spoke with her house mom. I felt silly saying "Hi, this is Wendy's mom. I was just calling to make sure you all were ok." :) They were all ok. The house mom didn't feel anything when she was outside, but the ladies in the house did feel some shaking. God is good! I am so thankful for the ability to call and check on my little girl! I would have been so worried otherwise.
I am blessed.

Lori :)

Last updated June 13, 2007 2:16 p.m. PT
Strong earthquake rocks Guatemala
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

GUATEMALA CITY -- A powerful earthquake shook Guatemala and parts of neighboring nations Wednesday, sending some residents in El Salvador's capital rushing into the streets for safety. Officials said there were no immediate reports of casualties or serious damage.
The quake struck at 1:29 p.m. local time and was centered 70 miles southwest of Guatemala City off the Pacific coast, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It gave a preliminary calculation of magnitude of 6.8.
Benedicto Giron, spokesman for the National Disaster Reduction Center, said there had been some landslides in the southwest province of Escuintla but they apparently didn't cause any serious problems.
He noted that telephone service was down in some areas and information was tricking in slowly from the various provinces.
The Geological Survey said the temblor was strong enough and close enough to population areas to have caused damage.
The quake was felt strongly in neighboring El Salvador, where some people ran into the streets in the capital of San Salvador, but the Red Cross there said it had no reports of damage or injury. It was also felt in the Mexican city of Tapachula, near the Guatemalan border.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center based in Hawaii said no tsunami was expected from the quake.
The region is prone to earthquakes. Almost 23,000 people died in a 1976 earthquake.
(This version CORRECTS Corrects time to 1:29 p.m., ADDS comment by disaster relief official, no risk of tsunami, felt in Mexico.)

Last updated June 14, 2007 8:39 a.m. PT
Guatemala quake causes little damage
By RODRIGO ESTRADAASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

GUATEMALA CITY -- A powerful earthquake that shook Guatemala and parts of El Salvador caused widespread panic but left both countries virtually unscathed, officials said Thursday.
Landslides were reported outside the Guatemalan capital in the southwest province of Escuintla from Wednesday's quake, but they apparently caused no casualties, said Benedicto Giron, spokesman for the National Disaster Reduction Center.
"Besides some landslides, the only other damage confirmed has been a wall that collapsed at a home under construction," said another spokeswoman, Ana Luis Olmedo.
Eddy Sanchez, director of Guatemala's seismology institute, said several aftershocks have been felt since the 6.8-magnitude afternoon quake struck southwest of Guatemala City. It was centered 70 miles from the capital off the Pacific coast, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
In Guatemala City, people fled into the streets, causing massive traffic jams.
Gabriel Arana said she was cooking when the earthquake caused the corrugated metal roof on her shack to flap up and down. "We're used to earthquakes but this was really scary," she said.
The quake was also felt in neighboring El Salvador, where people ran into the streets in the capital of San Salvador, but the Red Cross said it had no reports of damage or injuries.
The Pacific coast of Central America is prone to earthquakes. Almost 23,000 people died in a 1976 earthquake in Guatemala.