Mexico: 6.4-magnitude earthquake shakes capital city

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/08/mexico-earthquake-strike-capital-city

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A strong earthquake on the Pacific coast of Mexico shook the capital on Thursday, sending frightened office workers streaming into the streets away from high-rise buildings.

The 6.4-magnitude temblor in southern Guerrero state had an epicentre about 15 kilometres (9 miles) north of Tecpan de Galeana and about 171 miles (277 kilometres) south-west of Mexico City, according to the US Geological Survey. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

The quake had a depth of 15 miles (23 kilometres). There was only mild shaking in the resort city of Acapulco, according to reports. The USGS downgraded the magnitude from 6.8.

Carmen Lopez was leaving a downtown Mexico City office building when the ground began to sway.

"That was just too scary," said Lopez, as she quickly started dialing her cellphone to alert friends and family.

Behind her, thousands of people poured out from neighbouring office buildings, following pre-planned evacuation routes to areas considered safe from any potential of falling glass.

Mexico City is vulnerable to distant earthquakes because much of it sits atop the muddy sediments of drained lake beds.

A 7.2-magnitude quake with an epicentre about 40 miles (66 kilometres) from Thursday's quake shook central and southern Mexico on 18 April.