World

A 6.2-magnitude earthquake shook Guatemala's Pacific coastline on Sunday, four days after a major quake killed dozens in the Central American country.

People fled buildings and homes in panic in various cities along Guatemala's Pacific coastline near its border with Mexico on Sunday, but there were no immediate reports of deaths or major damages.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was centred 180 kilometres (112 miles) west-southwest of Guatemala City, off the country's coast, and had a depth of 29 kilometres (18 miles).

Seismologists say it was the strongest aftershock yet from a 7.4-magnitude earthquake that killed 52 people in western Guatemala on Wednesday.

That quake, the country's strongest in 36 years, left thousands of people without homes, electricity or water; and emotionally devastated one small town by wiping out almost an entire family.

It was centred about 100 miles (160 kilometres) southwest of Guatemala City and was felt as far as Mexico City. It affected as many as 1.2 million Guatemalans and was followed by 70 aftershocks in the first 24 hours.

Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina had deployed more than 2,000 soldiers to the region to help with the disaster. The U.S. State Department said it was sending some $50,000 in immediate disaster relief, including clean water, fuel and blankets.