7.4 quake strikes Guatemala; at least 15 dead, 100+ missing

A strong earthquake struck the southwestern coast of Guatemala this morning at about 1030am local time. The magnitude 7.4 quake is the strongest to hit the central American nation since a 7.5 quake in the mid-seventies, which killed 20,000 people.

Reuters reports 8 dead, more than a hundred missing, and damaged communication lines—which make it hard to get an accurate sense of the damage.

Update: death toll estimates range from 15 to 30, by various sources.

People felt the temblor as far away as Mexico City, some 750 miles from the epicenter.

The Guatemalan newspaper Prensa Libre is reporting that the worst damage is in the region of San Marcos. There's a Storify of eyewitness photos and videos here.

(Photo: Prensa Libre)