At least 48 dead after the earthquake in Guatemala

A strong earthquake that shook Guatemala on Wednesday left at least 48 dead and several injured mainly by the housing collapse in the north of the country, which was declared in a state of emergency after the worst earthquake in more than 35 years. The epicenter of the 7.4 magnitude quake was in the sea, 24 kilometers southwest of the port town of Champerico , according to the Geological Survey of the United States. "It is sad to greet people here who are waiting to find their relatives were buried.'s Truly a tragedy and sadness," said President Otto Perez Molina , to visit the department of San Marcos, the most beaten by the earthquake and the border with Mexico. The president said hours before red alert throughout the territory of Guatemala, which involves suspension from public activities to focus all efforts in state care and rescue victims. Back in the capital, Perez said the death toll rose to 48 and who reports to 23 people missing after that during the day they talk about 100. "It is unfortunate for us the loss of life," he said. The coordinator of municipal firefighters, Cecilio Chacaj, said the deaths were mainly due to the collapse of houses in different towns of San Marcos and Quetzaltenango. In the town of San Cristobal Cucho, in the department of San Marcos, ten members of a family died under the rubble, according to local radio sources Ovid volunteer firefighter. There were also injured as a result of landslides on roads and paths surrounded by mountains. Wednesday's earthquake was the worst in Guatemala since 1976, when a magnitude 7.5 movement caused the deaths of nearly 20,000 people. n the capital, government offices and homes were evacuated . "It was great. Dizzy I felt good," said Vanessa Castillo, secretary of 38 years who had been evacuated from the 10-story building where he works, along with others. The strong quake was also felt in neighboring El Salvador and even in the crowded capital of Mexico, where there was building evacuations but no damage. In El Salvador, many people left their homes and workplaces and took to the streets, but no serious damage or casualties reported. In Mexico City, some buildings were evacuated temporarily, but there were no reports of damage. Services such as electricity meters and functioning normally. "He was intense in most of the city (...) strategic systems working," said City Mayor, Marcelo Ebrard , on his Twitter account.