A powerful earthquake hit the southeastern coast of Mexico in the state of Oaxaca on Tuesday.
The temblor struck at about 11:30 a.m., according to the U.S. Geological Survey, which said the quake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.7 but has since been adjusted to 7.4. The earthquake was a relatively shallow 26 kilometers deep. Typically, the closer an earthquake is to the surface the more damage it can cause. Shaking could be felt as far away as Guatemala and El Salvador.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said at least one person was confirmed to have been killed in the earthquake when a building collapsed in Huatulco, Oaxaca. He also said there was minor damage to several buildings, including broken windows and collapsed walls.
It is unclear whether Oaxaca has sustained any major damage or if there have been any causalities. The earthquake’s epicenter was located along the coast and the National Weather Service’s Pacific Tsunami Warning System said there was a threat for tsunamis in Mexico and the coastline of some other nearby countries. In Mexico, the NWS said that the waves could reach 3 feet to 9 feet above the tide level.
There have been more than 140 aftershocks from the powerful temblor.
“There will be aftershocks,” USGS seismologist Paul Earle told the Associated Press. “It is not unexpected to see a magnitude 6 at this point and a number of smaller ones.”
M 7.4 – 11 km SSW of Santa María Zapotitlán, Mexico. https://t.co/3sOT3XVzim pic.twitter.com/YVsYz3E0pI
— USGS (@USGS) June 23, 2020
The earthquake was felt hundreds of miles away in Mexico’s capital of Mexico City, which is located in the central part of the country.
Videos showed shaking and people reacting to the earthquake across Mexico.
?En #VIDEO Caída de productos y desprendimiento de techo de una tienda Oxxo en Huatulco por sismo de magnitud 7.5 en Huatulco#Oaxaca pic.twitter.com/UF7BiYM7gH
— Diario El Fortín? (@diarioelfortin) June 23, 2020
The city of Oaxaca shows damage to old buildings in the downtown area after the earthquake this morning.
Via Sismologico pic.twitter.com/anEAJs41gC#temblor #earthquake #mexico #oaxaca #tembloroaxaca #sismo #alertasismica pic.twitter.com/PaMVyiflW9
— Corelion, LLC (@corelionnews) June 23, 2020
Breaking: Video shows the ground moving during magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Oaxaca, Mexico. pic.twitter.com/OZzB3ejicU
— PM Breaking News (@PMBreakingNews) June 23, 2020
My heads still spinning from 7.1 earthquake felt across Mexico – epicenter in Oaxaca. One of our main fears during earthquakes in Mexico City are the power lines exploding – fortunately these didn’t fall down but they surely looked like they might. pic.twitter.com/mmDsE1r6UO
— ??????????? (@Andalalucha) June 23, 2020
Earthquake just hit #MexicoCity #Earthquake #mexico pic.twitter.com/J8iWzJvrc0
— nabiel (@nabiel) June 23, 2020
