Guatemala earthquake, 7.4 magnitude, aftershocks, Conred, Insivumeh, tsunami alert, landslides, structural damage, emergency response.

Authorities activated a national emergency response after the earthquake caused dozens of incidents but no fatalities.

Guatemalan authorities reported 42 aftershocks and 58 emergency incidents on Friday after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake off Mexico’s Pacific coast shook the country, causing structural damage, landslides and one injury while prompting a nationwide emergency response.

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The National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (Conred) declared an institutional orange alert and activated the National Response Plan following reports of damage across several sectors.

According to the National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology (Insivumeh), the earthquake was caused by a subduction process in which the Cocos tectonic plate moves beneath the Caribbean plate.

Seismological authorities also issued a preventive tsunami alert, warning of wave fluctuations of up to 34 centimeters along the Pacific coastline of San Marcos and Guatemala’s southern coast.

SISMO REGISTRADO
Región epicentral: DEPARTAMENTO DE SANTA ROSA
17 de julio de 2026. 18:47:46 hrs.
Descarga el boletin https://t.co/O04yp2Fx52 #SomosINSIVUMEH #ElPuebloDignoEsPrimero #CIV #TemblorGT #SismoGT pic.twitter.com/gBaQse6HUN

— INSIVUMEH (@insivumehgt) July 18, 2026

Text Reads: EARTHQUAKE RECORDED Epicentral region: SANTA ROSA DEPARTMENT July 17, 2026. 18:47:46 hrs.

Insivumeh said a magnitude 5.0 foreshock was detected at 7:20 a.m. local time, about 90 minutes before the main earthquake struck at 8:48 a.m. local time (14:48 GMT).

“The system remains on alert 24 hours a day to respond to any report. I ask the population, first of all, to remain calm and avoid spreading rumors that generate panic,” said Claudinne Ogaldes, secretary of the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (Conred).

Authorities said the earthquake left one person hospitalized, forced the evacuation of 11 people, triggered landslides on three roads and caused structural cracks in 14 schools and 12 public buildings.

No fatalities were reported.

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