The death toll in the worst earthquake to hit Guatemala in decades has risen to 50, media reports yesterday quoted emergency services as saying.
The fatalities included 16 children. About 20 people are missing and about 150 are reportedly injured.
Wednesday's quake hit hardest at San Marcos and Quetzaltenango, near the border with Mexico. It was followed by about 30 aftershocks.
The government announced three days of mourning.
President Otto Perez Molina put Guatemala on its highest level of alert and travelled by helicopter to San Marcos, where 40 were killed.
"It is difficult to see so much tragedy and sadness," he said, adding that the quake was the worst in his country since 1976.
In San Cristobal, 10 members of one family were killed when their house collapsed.
Electricity and water supplies failed. Mudslides blocked several streets.
The government mobilised about 2000 soldiers and 500 police to help clean up disaster areas.
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