The worst earthquake measuring 7.2 on Richter Scale rocked Guatemala's southwest Pacific coasts Wednesday night that left at least 52 people dead, an estimate of more than 600,000 children affected and more than 700 people in shelters as many as 10,000 houses may have been rendered uninhabitable. 

Although the quake lasted only 40 seconds, it was enough to change the landscape of Guatemala's southwest Pacific coast affecting 1.2 million with damage reported in all of Guatemala's 22 states and tremor felt as far away as Mexico City, 965 kilometres to the northwest. The quake hit hardest in San Marcos near the border with Mexico where at least 40 people died. 

According to early assessments, about seven schools in the San Marcos, Huehuetenango, Quetzaltenango and Quiché departments are reported to be damaged. 

22 people were still reported missing and over 2,200 homes destroyed, firefighters, policemen and hundreds of rescue workers are sifting through debris of wrecked towns trying to rescue people believed buried alive. Volunteers carrying boxes of medical supplies began arriving in the area in western Guatemala late Wednesday. 

Guatemala's president, Otto Perez Molina flew to San Marcos to view the damage in this lush mountainous region of 50,000 Mam ethnic group of farmers and ranchers. "As a Guatemalan I feel sad ... to see mothers crying for their lost children." said Molina and declared three days of mourning.

The president said more than 2,000 soldiers were deployed to help with the disaster. A plane had made at least two trips to carry relief teams to the area.

There have been dozens of aftershocks, four of them over 5 in magnitude. 

Plan Guatemala says after disasters such as earthquakes, girls and boys can become separated from their families, they can be scared, anxious and unsure of what to do. Girls are particularly vulnerable.

"We are supporting government efforts on needs assessment and child protection."

Wednesday's quake, was the strongest to hit the country since 1976 that killed 23,000.