A powerful earthquake has hit El Salvador ripping through the capital city at midday on Saturday, killing at least 300 people and burying an entire neighbourhood. More than 1,000 people are missing.
The death toll is expected to climb in the coming days. The earthquake measured 7.6 on the Richter scale.
Thousands of volunteers scrambled frantically with sticks or bare hands in the Santa Tecla neighbourhood, just outside the capital, San Salvador, clearing debris and mud to reach people buried by a 1,500-ft landslide which carried away houses, cars and trees.
The earthquake epicentre occurred 65 miles south-east of San Salvador, off the Pacific coast.
Energy supplies were cut across the country and the international airport was closed, hampering efforts to bring in relief supplies.
A police spokesman said 247 deaths had been confirmed, most of them in the massive landslide in Santa Tecla. Some 1,340 people had been evacuated to shelters, said Mr Mauricio Ferrer, director of the emergency committee. He said the death toll would probably go higher.
Switzerland, Spain, Venezuela and Ireland were among the first countries to mobilise relief efforts and foreign aid, including money, medical supplies and blankets, is starting to flow in.
President Francisco Flores made an urgent appeal for international aid, personally requesting help from Mexico's legendary topos or "moles", who have worldwide experience in earthquake relief work.