3 die as earthquake hits Mexico
Source: Agencies |
December 12, 2011, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A magnitude-6.5 earthquake struck in Mexico's western Guerrero state, shaking buildings and causing panic in the nation's capital and the Pacific resort of Acapulco. Officials said at least three people died, but there were no reports of widespread damage.
The United States Geological Service initially estimated the quake at magnitude-6.8, but downgraded it to 6.7 and then 6.5. A quake of that magnitude is capable of causing severe damage, although the depth of this temblor lessened its impact.
The USGS said the quake occurred at 6:47pm local time on Saturday at a depth of 64.9 kilometers. It was centered about 42 kilometers southwest of Iguala in Guerrero and 166 kilometers south-southwest of Mexico City.
Mexico's Interior Department said the quake was felt in parts of nine states.
Humberto Calvo, undersecretary of Guerrero's Civil Protection agency, said three deaths had been reported in the state. He said one among the three was killed when a house's roof collapsed in Iguala, a second died in the small town of Ixcateopan and the driver of a cargo truck was killed by rocks that fell on the vehicle driving on the toll highway linking Acapulco with Mexico City.
Calvo said a secondary highway between the two cities was blocked in two places by rockslides.
High-rises swayed in the center of Mexico City for over a minute, and shoppers temporarily left some shopping centers until the danger passed.
Mexico City's mayor, Marcelo Ebrard, reported by Twitter that no major damage had been reported. He said power failed in some parts of the city.
People in one part of the city's upscale Condesa area ran out of their houses and gathered in the streets, hugging each other while some began to cry.
The United States Geological Service initially estimated the quake at magnitude-6.8, but downgraded it to 6.7 and then 6.5. A quake of that magnitude is capable of causing severe damage, although the depth of this temblor lessened its impact.
The USGS said the quake occurred at 6:47pm local time on Saturday at a depth of 64.9 kilometers. It was centered about 42 kilometers southwest of Iguala in Guerrero and 166 kilometers south-southwest of Mexico City.
Mexico's Interior Department said the quake was felt in parts of nine states.
Humberto Calvo, undersecretary of Guerrero's Civil Protection agency, said three deaths had been reported in the state. He said one among the three was killed when a house's roof collapsed in Iguala, a second died in the small town of Ixcateopan and the driver of a cargo truck was killed by rocks that fell on the vehicle driving on the toll highway linking Acapulco with Mexico City.
Calvo said a secondary highway between the two cities was blocked in two places by rockslides.
High-rises swayed in the center of Mexico City for over a minute, and shoppers temporarily left some shopping centers until the danger passed.
Mexico City's mayor, Marcelo Ebrard, reported by Twitter that no major damage had been reported. He said power failed in some parts of the city.
People in one part of the city's upscale Condesa area ran out of their houses and gathered in the streets, hugging each other while some began to cry.
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