周三，危地马拉沿海地区和墨西哥南部地区发生强烈地震，造成至少48人死亡，贫困地区大量房屋倒塌。
A powerful earthquake rocked the coast of Guatemala and southern Mexico on Wednesday, killing at least 48 people and toppling buildings in poor neighborhoods.
据美国地质调查局(U.S. Geological Survey)监测，这场里氏7.4级的地震震中位于危地马拉沿海城镇钱佩里科(Champerico)附近海域，距离该国首都危地马拉城(Guatemala City)约150英里（约合240公里）。震波冲击了墨西哥的恰帕斯州(Chiapas)及危地马拉沿海地区，远在600多英里以外的墨西哥城也有震感。
The magnitude-7.4 tremor struck off the coast of Guatemalan coastal town Champerico, about 150 miles from the capital at Guatemala City, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The quake sent shockwaves through the Mexican state of Chiapas and along the Guatemalan coast, and was felt as far as Mexico City more than 600 miles away.
危地马拉救灾部门发言人米内尔(Johana Miner)说，至少有48人遇难，其中大部分是在圣马科斯省(San Marcos)。该省是沿海一个多山地带，位于震中附近。米内尔说，目前仍约有100人失踪，死亡人数可能上升。她说，有至少32座房屋被毁，主要位于圣马科斯省，当地的建筑通常是不够稳固的土坯房。
At least 48 people were killed, mainly in San Marcos province, a mountainous coastal stretch that sits beside the epicenter, said Johana Miner, a spokeswoman at the Guatemalan disaster agency. Ms. Miner said that around 100 remained missing and that the death toll could rise. At least 32 houses were destroyed, mainly in San Marcos, she said, where construction is often unstable adobe.
危地马拉总统佩雷斯(Otto Perez Molina)发布了灾害警报，要求受影响的建筑内的人疏散，并警告可能发生余震。
Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina issued a disaster alert and asked for the evacuation of affected buildings, warning of aftershocks.
危地马拉位于一系列活火山沿线，易发生严重地震。该国是中美洲最贫穷的国家之一，很多建筑不符合抗震标准。
Guatemala, which lies along a range of active volcanoes, is vulnerable to severe earthquakes. The country is one of the region's poorest and many buildings don't comply with seismic standards.
这次地震似乎是几十年来该国发生的最严重的地震。1976年，该国危地马拉城以北发生里氏7.5级地震，造成逾2.3万人死亡，整座整座的镇子被夷为平地。
The earthquake appeared to be the largest to hit the country in decades. In 1976, a magnitude-7.5 earthquake rocked the country north of Guatemala City, a disaster that claimed more than 23,000 lives and leveled entire towns.
目前危地马拉城和墨西哥靠近危地马拉的边境地区尚无人员伤亡报告。危地马拉的大部分人口都集中在危地马拉城。墨西哥城市长埃布拉尔(Marcelo Ebrard)说，该城没有遭到严重破坏。
There were no reports of casualties in Guatemala City, where most of the population is concentrated, nor on the Mexican side of the border. Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard said there were no serious damage there.