Natural Disasters

Earthquake of magnitude 8.1 strikes Mexico; at least 15 killed

Its epicentre was 123 km (76 miles) southwest of the town of Pijijiapan, at a depth of 33 km

 
By DTE Staff
Published: Friday 08 September 2017

A powerful earthquake of magnitude 8.1 has struck off the coast of Chiapas in south Mexico before midnight on Thursday. It has killed at least 15 people. According to the Mexican president, the earthquake was the strongest in a century in the country.

The epicentre of earthquake was 123 km (76 miles) southwest of the town of Pijijiapan, at a depth of 33 km (21 miles). At least 61 aftershocks have been recorded since then.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) has also confirmed Tsunami, with the largest wave so far being 0.7 m / 2.3 ft. Earlier, the PTWC said that hazardous tsunami waves were possible within the three hours following the quake.

The quake was felt in Mexico City, which is 620 miles (1,000 km) away from the epicentre. People reportedly ran out into the streets after the quake struck. The earthquake has destroyed homes and buildings and left some hospitals without power in the Chiapas state.

An aftershock with a magnitude of 5.7 occurred about 50 miles to the northwest of the location where the first quake hit, the United States Geological Survey said.

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