Mexico City earthquake: Country rattled by 5.5 earthquake
| Mexico City
A earthquake shook Mexico City on Tuesday, causing buildings to sway in the capital and sending thousands fleeing into the streets as an earthquake alarm sounded.
There were no immediate reports of damages or injuries. Mexico Seismology Service said the quake had a magnitude of 5.9 and was centered about 30 miles (50 kilometers) southwest of Pinotepa Nacional on the Pacific Coast.
The US Geological Survey recorded a 5.5 magnitude quake, about 100 miles south of Acapulco on the Pacific Coast.
Located atop three of the large tectonic plates, Mexico is one of the world's most seismologically active regions, notes the USGS. And many Mexicans remember the magnitude 8.1 earthquake killed more than 9,500 people in Mexico City in 1985.
On Monday, a 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck near Guatemala City, but residents said they barely felt the temblor and authorities had no immediate reports of damages or deaths.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake's epicenter was located 4 miles (6 kilometers) northwest of San Jose Pinula and had a depth of 200 kilometers (124 miles).
"So far we have received no reports of damage and we're monitoring nationwide," said Mario Cruz, a spokesman for firefighters.
The quake was only 6 miles (10 kilometers) from Guatemala's capital, but was barely felt, perhaps because of its depth.
In November 2012, a magnitude-7.4 earthquake left 42 people dead in Guatemala. The quake, which was just 32 kilometers (20 mile) deep, was centered off the coastal town of Champerico. It was the strongest earthquake to hit Guatemala since a 1976 temblor that killed 23,000.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
