Guatemala suspended classes at schools in and around its capital on Wednesday and ordered some businesses to close after an earthquake triggered landslides that killed at least two people and destroyed some buildings.
The initial 5.7-magnitude earthquake on Tuesday afternoon struck about 10 miles southwest of Guatemala City, according to the United States Geological Survey. The city has a population of about three million people.
The earthquake and its aftershocks led to landslides that caused some buildings to collapse, the national disaster agency said on social media. At least two people were killed when a boulder fell on their vehicle, the local news media reported, citing firefighters at the scene. Officials in the area could not immediately be reached for comment.
The government suspended classes at schools and non-essential services in and around the capital after the quakes. Guatemala’s Finance Ministry was also closed through at least Wednesday so that inspectors could evaluate the building for damages.
President Bernardo Arévalo of Guatemala told reporters that some infrastructure, homes and highways had been damaged. He said the earthquake, in a country known for volcanic activity, was not linked to a volcanic eruption.
Mike Ives is a reporter for The Times based in Seoul, covering breaking news around the world.
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