M7.8 earthquake hits Mexico
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E-mail China.org.cn, March 21, 2012
A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Mexico's Pacific coast on Tuesday, shaking central and southern parts of the country.
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A powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck southwest Mexico, causing residents in the capital several hundred miles away to rush out onto the streets but no immediate reports of serious damage. [Xinhua/AFP] |
Strong tremors were felt in Mexico City and prompted panicked residents to flee from shaking buildings.
The quake struck at 12:02 local time (18:02 GMT) with a depth of 17.50 km, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported.
The epicenter was located 193 kilometers east of the famous Mexican tourist resort of Acapulco on the Pacific coast in Guerrero state, the USGS said.
Buildings in the Mexico City swayed amid strong tremors and residents ran out of their homes into the streets, Xinhua reported.
Residents said that buildings in the populous central residential area of Condesa in Mexico city shook for several minutes.
"This was terrifying, it was without doubt the strongest earthquake I have ever experienced here," a terrified resident told Xinhua on the street after fleeing from a building.
It was not immediately known if the quake has caused any severe damage or injuries. Shortly after the tremor stopped, ambulance sirens were heard in many parts of the Mexican capital which is home to some 20 million people.
"There was earth and smoke coming from below the ground, even the tallest of the buildings in Reforma Avenue were swaying wildly from side to side and windows were crashing around us," said Maria Gonzalez, a worker who was at the city' financial district next to the Mexican Stock Exchange when the quake happened.
"The whole ground started moving below me where I was walking, people were terrified. This felt as strong as in 1985," said Gonzalez, referring to the 8.0-magnitude quake which killed over 10,000 people in Mexico in 1985 and left the capital in ruins.
Mobile telephone networks crashed and power outlets were cut in several parts of the city, but internet services was reported to be working.
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