And an earthquake, too

As if the hurricane, merciless rains, and tragic mudslides weren't enough...

Earthquake Rocks El Salvador, Guatemala

[AP] A moderate earthquake rocked Central America on Friday, causing the collapse of a rain-damaged highway bridge in Guatemala and sending thousands of frightened Salvadoran residents into the streets.

There were no immediate reports of other damage or injuries from the magnitude 5.8 quake in either of the two countries.

The death toll throughout Central America from flooding and landslides already has reached 277, with Guatemala bearing the brunt of the damage and deaths. A total of 177 people have been confirmed killed in Guatemala, but Benedicto Giron, a spokesman for the National Agency for Disaster Reduction, said villagers reported "200 or 300 people buried."

With food and water running out, governments in Central America and Mexico scrambled Friday to reach isolated areas devastated by a week of intense rain, with residents saying panic was starting to grow among survivors.

Tags: Guatemala, CAFTA, Rain