A 7.1 magnitude earthquake with an epicenter about 75 miles southeast of Mexico City shook buildings across the city on Tuesday, killing at least 44 people according to initial reports.
A video posted by the news outlet Milenio.com showed their newsroom being shook, with the light fixtures falling and dangling from the ceiling.
Rafa Fernandez, who works for Fusion, said there are several gas leaks in the city’s Reforma Avenue, “People walking in all directions to get away. Shouts of ‘no smoking!'”, he tweeted.
Several gas leaks in Mexico City’s Reforma Avenue after earthquake. People walking in all directions to get away. Shouts of “no smoking!” pic.twitter.com/h4t9gelcd7
— Rafa Fernandez (@rafafc91) September 19, 2017
Videos were posted to social media showing people rushing out of buildings as they swayed.
This was the scene on the street in Mexico City the exact moment the earthquake hit.pic.twitter.com/as9WritoDX
— Mikel Jollett (@Mikel_Jollett) September 19, 2017
Other buildings completely collapsed.
BREAKING NEWS: Building collapse this afternoon in Mexico City after magnitude 7.1 earthquake. Video via @Breaking911 #Earthquake #Mexico pic.twitter.com/77nxJagUzL
— Mark Tarello (@mark_tarello) September 19, 2017
One video showed debris falling from the National Employment Service building in Mexico City.
#TenemosSismo @AristeguiOnline #RT COMPARTAN #SISMO esto es en metro Etiopía @STCMetroGDF pic.twitter.com/VSex6kSNXI
— pıʌɐp (@Davepool91) September 19, 2017
Local TV also showed boats on the canals of Xochimilco, which is south of Mexico City, being rocked by strong waves.
Video shows collapsed store in Mexico City after 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit the area pic.twitter.com/qMso4H9uO6
— NBC News (@NBCNews) September 19, 2017
Earlier in the day, earthquake preparation drills were held across the city to mark the anniversary of a 8.1 magnitude earthquake which damaged large swaths of Mexico City in 1985.
