Guatemala earthquake kills dozens in mountain villages

At least 48 people have been killed and roughly 20 are missing, according to latest numbers, after a 7.4-magnitude quake hit off Guatemala's Pacific coast.

Quake officials said the tremor hit on Wednesday, at about 10:35 local time (16:35 GMT) about 23km (15 miles) from the Guatemalan town of Champerico.

The initial quake was followed by dozens of aftershocks, four of them over a magnitude of 5.

Eddy Sanchez, Director of Guatemala's Seismological Institute, said it had been the biggest tremor in Guatemala since 1976, when 25,000 people died in a 7.5-magnitude quake.

President Perez Molina has given several news conferences, each time raising the number of casualties.

Touring the affected area, he said 40 deaths had been confirmed in San Marcos province and another eight in neighbouring Quetzaltenango.

He said 23 people were still missing and 153 were being housed in emergency shelters.

The town of San Marcos was the worst-hit, where many buildings were damaged and more than 30 destroyed completely.

Speaking in San Marcos, Perez Molina said: "It's very sad to meet people here who are waiting to find their families who are still buried.

"It's really a tragedy and we will do all we can to help the families that are suffering."

Residents spent Wednesday night outside, wrapped in blankets, while others took shelter in the hospital, the only building with electricity, the Associated Press reports from San Marcos.

Fourteen houses have been destroyed in the city of Quetzaltenango, which houses dozens of language schools popular with tourists.

Panama, El Salvador and Honduras have offered their help with the rescue operation.

The energy ministry said about 73,000 people were left without electricity.