At least 5 Confirmed Dead, 18 Injured in Guatemalan Quake

The magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck near the border of Mexico and Guatemala early on Tuesday morning killed at least five people, Guatemalan officials said.

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Hitting about 156 kilometers west-northwest of Guatemala city, in San Marcos province bordering the Mexican state of Chiapas at 1:29 a.m. on Tuesday, officials have said that there were at least 50 other aftershocks following it.

Among the fatalities were a homeless man taking refuge in a church in the town of San Sebastian Retalhueleu, who was killed when the church collapsed.

A woman in Tacana in San Marcos was confirmed to have died when her house collapsed on her.

At least three died of earthquake triggered heart attacks.

Between Guatemala and Chiapas, at least 18 people are being treated for injuries caused by the quake.

The earthquake caused some homes to collapse in the regions around the epicenter, as well as power outages. Schools and government activities in the area are closed to inspect for damages.

The quake was felt in Guatemala City, but didn't cause significant damage in the Guatemalan capital.

The area is a high-risk zone for major earthquakes. In late 2012, a 7.4-magnitude quake off the coast of Guatemala near the Mexican border killed at least 48 people and trapped numerous others under rubble.