Strong earthquake hits southwest Mexico

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A 6.3-magnitude earthquake jolted southwestern Mexico on Monday, sending tremors to Mexico City and prompting evacuations of buildings in the capital.

The quake struck minutes before 1 p.m. local time, shaking buildings in Mexico City for several seconds and sending residents fleeing to the streets. Some residents told Xinhua that lights flickered and furniture shook in their homes.

Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard said on Twitter that an inspection via helicopter flights over the city showed "no major damages."

The city's flyover was undamaged in the quake and the subway was functioning normally, said the mayor, adding that there were evacuations of buildings and scenes of distress.

The USGS measured the quake at a magnitude of 6.3 on the Richter scale. It said the epicenter, with a depth of 12.3 kilometers, was located some 27 kilometers southeast of the town of Ometepec in Guerrero state, southwestern Mexico.

However, Mexico's National Seismological Service put the tremor at 6.0 magnitude.

There have been frequent aftershocks in Mexico since a 7.4- magnitude quake hit central and southern Mexico on March 20, killing two people and injuring 11 others.

The March 20 earthquake was the most powerful one since 1985 when a massive earthquake caused huge destruction and claimed nearly 10,000 lives.

 

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