Magnitude-7.2 earthquake hits Mexico

A 7.2-magnitude quake jolted southern Mexican state of Oaxaca on Friday afternoon, according to Mexico's National Seismological Service (SSN).

People wait outside their offices and vehicles after a strong earthquake, in Mexico City, Mexico, 16 February 2018. [Photo: IC]

The U.S. Geological Survey also put the magnitude of the quake at 7.2 rather than 7.5.

The strong quake occurred at 5:39 p.m. local time (1139 GMT, Saturday), 11 km south of the coastal town of Pinotepa Nacional in southwest Oaxaca.

Luis Felipe Puente, the national coordinator of civil protection, said that the earthquake was felt in the states of Oaxaca, Chiapas, Puebla, Michoacan and in Mexico City. So far, no injuries or damage have been reported.

A magnitude-5.8 aftershock struck the state of Oaxaca about an hour after the previous 7.2-magnitude quake.

The civil protection authorities activated protocols to review possible damage.

The earthquake triggered a seismic alert of the country's capital, prompting residents to evacuate their homes and offices to take shelter in streets and parks.

Mayor of Mexico City Miguel Angel Mancera said in an interview with the news channel ForoTV that he had no information on incidents after the quake and that only a few people had suffered nervous breakdowns.

On Sept. 7 and 19 last year, Mexico saw two earthquakes of 8.2 and 7.1 magnitude, which killed 471 people and damaged over 180,000 houses in eight states, including Mexico City.