Rural communities in Guatemala were severely affected by the strong 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck the country's Pacific coast on November 7, 2012.

The blog [es] for the community library Mi Nuevo Mundo (My new world) -part of the Rising Voices grantee project Xela Civic Libraries, located in the Huitán village in the Quetzaltenango department- has been sharing photos and reports of the earthquake's impact on the families living in this rural area of Guatemala.

In a post [es] published on November 10, community librarian Roman Díaz Castañón reported that several houses collapsed and families were left homeless in an area called Huitancito in Huitán:

las familias lloran por ese desastre,ellos están en extrema pobreza y están pasando una situación alarmante, no han llegado ayudas de instituciones como víveres, alimentos, necesitamos de su ayuda.

the families cry because of this disaster, they are in extreme poverty and are going through an alarming situation. Help, such as food, has not arrived from institutions, we need your help.

Family from Huitancito, Huitán, photo from blog Biblioteca Comunitaria Mi Nuevo Mundo.

House destroyed in Huitancito, Huitán, photo from blog Biblioteca Comunitaria Mi Nuevo Mundo.

Rubble after the earthquake in Huitancito, Huitán, photo from blog Biblioteca Comunitaria Mi Nuevo Mundo.

Two days later, Roman reported [es] that on Sunday, November 11, Riecken Foundation Guatemala and the community library had provided aid to ten families affected by the earthquake in Huitancito, Huitán. The post highlighted that the village still needed help with food, kitchen utensils, blankets, and building houses. Furthermore, Roman added that 100 families were affected by the earthquake, and 20 lost their houses.

Residents of Huitancito, Huitán receive aid from Riecken Guatemala and community library Mi Nuevo Mundo, photo from blog Biblioteca Comunitaria Mi Nuevo Mundo.

Later that day, a short post [es] announced that help from the government had arrived on November 12. The blog will keep readers informed about the distribution of food and other aid.

Government arrives with food for families affected by earthquake in Huitán photo from blog Biblioteca Comunitaria Mi Nuevo Mundo.

Guatemala has been hit by several aftershocks since November 7, including a 6.5-mangitude earthquake on November 12. The official death toll for the whole country is currently at 42 casualties.