Magnitude-6.4 earthquake shakes southern Mexico; no major damage

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Feb 12, 2008

MEXICO CITY -- A magnitude-6.4 earthquake shook southern Mexico on Tuesday, but there were no immediate reports of major damage.

The quake gently swayed buildings in Mexico City and rocked parts of Mexico's southern Pacific and Gulf coasts. In the southern city of Tuxtla Gutierrez, many people fled into the streets and then lingered outside their homes, fearing aftershocks.

"It was horrible," said Cecilia Gomez, standing with her family outside her home. "It really scared me."

Daniel Roque, of southern Chiapas state's civil protection agency, said some residents reported panic attacks, but no damage was registered.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck at 6:50 a.m. (4:50 a.m. PST) and was centered 70 miles southwest of Tuxtla Gutierrez, near the border between Oaxaca and Chiapas states.

Meanwhile, far to the north near Mexicali on the U.S. border, two moderate earthquakes struck on Monday and no major damage or injuries were reported.

A 5.0-magnitude earthquake took place at about 8:30 p.m. local time. About 10 hours earlier on Monday, a 5.1 temblor shook the area, prompting authorities to evacuate schools and resulting in at least one minor gas leak.

Both quakes were centered about 20 miles southeast of the border city of Mexicali, and 24 miles southeast of Calexico, Calif., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Monday's quakes were the latest in more than 40 aftershocks following Friday's magnitude-5.4 quake in the Mexicali area, USGS geophysicist Rafael Abreu said.