A swarm of shallow earthquakes, the strongest measuring 5.7, struck central and southern Guatemala on 8 July, shaking the capital and neighbouring El Salvador. The national seismological service, Insivumeh, located the main shocks near Escuintla and Sacatepéquez, about 60 kilometres south-west of Guatemala City. More than 190 aftershocks, most below magnitude 4, were detected through the early hours of 9 July. Guatemala’s disaster-response agency Conred said at least four people died, including a father and son whose vehicle was buried by falling rocks and a teenager recovered from a landslide. The agency counted roughly 324 injured and reported damage to around 100 homes, 17 roads and a bridge, with power cuts and blocked highways in several municipalities. President Bernardo Arévalo ordered schools closed and suspended non-essential work on 9 July in the departments of Guatemala, Escuintla and Sacatepéquez. Conred raised its alert level to orange, while the Health Ministry moved to a red alert to free up hospital capacity. Fire-fighters and army engineers cleared debris and set up temporary shelters as hundreds of residents spent the night outdoors, wary of further tremors. Insivumeh stressed that the sequence is tectonic and not related to nearby volcanic activity. Authorities urged residents to follow official guidance amid continuing aftershocks and reminded businesses to inspect buildings before allowing workers to return.