Grim find for Salvador rescuers

Almost everyone in Candelaria lost their homes

Rescue workers in El Salvador are continuing their search for survivors after Tuesday's devastating earthquake, the second to strike the country in a month.

A boy in Candelaria walks across the ruins of his classroom

In one of the worst-hit villages, Candelaria in central El Salvador, rescue workers pulled out the bodies of five small children from the wreckage of their school.

As least 22 children and their 25-year-old teacher - found with her arms wrapped around some of the children - died there, say the authorities.

Latest reports say a total of 255 people were killed, and more than 2,500 injured, with the figures expected to increase.

The church and the school are literally flat on the ground. The community is practically destroyed

Police commissioner Oswald Guerra on Candelaria

The 20-second quake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale struck on Tuesday morning, 15km (10 miles) south-east of the capital, San Salvador.

Houses flattened

It came as people in El Salvador were trying to re-build their lives after 13 January's quake, which left more than 1,000 dead.

Falling buildings have trapped an unknown number of people

In Candelaria, at least 39 people - including the schoolchildren - were killed, 1,300 houses were ruined and another 600 damaged.

Oswald Guerra, deputy commissioner of the national civil police, said: "The church and the school are literally flat on the ground.

"The community is practically destroyed."

Aftershocks fear

Many people were getting ready for work when Tuesday's quake struck, trapping many in their homes in the districts around San Salvador of La Paz, Cuscatlan and San Vicente.

Authorities said up to half the houses in San Vicente were flattened in the quake, and nearby towns of Analquito, San Emigdio, Guadalupe and Verapaz were 70-80% destroyed.

Local residents and rescue workers searched throughout the night for survivors amid the rubble of the region's fallen mud and brick built homes, as troops and police imposed a curfew to prevent looting.

Elsewhere, traumatised and weary Salvadorans braced for further aftershocks, some taking to the streets to sleep, others leaving doors and windows ajar to make a swift exit to the relative safety of the curbside.

The kids are already traumatised and with every new movement, they're terrified that the walls are going to fall in

Father Milton Geovani Diaz

Local aid workers say that food and medicines are badly needed as well as water because pipes in many areas have been destroyed.

Taxi driver Milton Geovani Diaz, said: "After everything that happened to us last month, we are once again facing the same terror.

The 13 January quake caused more than $1bn in damage

"The kids are already traumatised and with every new movement, they're terrified that the walls are going to fall in."

The latest tremor was smaller than January's 7.6 Richter scale quake, but caused huge damage because its epicentre was on land.

It was felt strongly not only in El Salvador but in neighbouring Guatemala and Honduras.

El Salvador is still reeling from the January quake, which caused more than $1bn in damage.

The UN has appealed for extra funds to help provide adequate housing, food and healthcare.