Guatemala Watches Santa Rosa Earthquake Sequence After 780 Tremors Since September
Scientists installed a new seismic station near Casillas, where at least 88 small quakes struck in the first days of November; officials urge families to stay calm and follow official reports.
See where this is ›CASILLAS, Guatemala —
Guatemala's national seismology and weather institute, Insivumeh, is keeping watch on a long run of small earthquakes in the eastern department of Santa Rosa, where 780 tremors have been recorded since September, Prensa Libre reported Nov. 7.
The activity is centered about two kilometers south of Laguna de Ayarza, a lake in the municipality of Casillas near the border with the department of Jutiapa. At least 88 of the quakes struck around Casillas in the first days of November, the newspaper said.
See where this is ›Most of the tremors have been weak and shallow. Six were reported to Insivumeh as felt. The strongest, a magnitude 4.5 quake on Oct. 12, was felt as far away as parts of Guatemala City.
Technicians have installed a seismic station in the village of Pinos Altos in Casillas, chosen for its location, to track the sequence and feed data to the National Seismological Network. Insivumeh said the activity falls within the region's normal historical pattern and is linked to local faults. It said similar sequences have also been recorded in other departments, including Jutiapa and Sacatepéquez.
The institute urged residents to keep calm and to follow reports on the official channels of Insivumeh and Conred, Guatemala's national disaster agency. It asked local authorities to inform the public using official reports and to follow Conred's protocols, and asked Conred to stay in contact as the activity develops.
What we don't know yet: Prensa Libre's report did not mention any damage, injuries or evacuations, and it did not say how long scientists expect the sequence to continue.
