Sept. 19 (UPI) — A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck central Mexico on Tuesday, killing dozens of people, including 42 in the state of Morelos, the governor there said.
The quake took place 32 years to the day after a massive quake devastated the country.
The epicenter of the temblor was located about 34 miles south-southwest of Puebla, about 90 miles southwest of Mexico City and 31 miles below the surface, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
Morales Gov. Graco Ramirez posted a tally of the dead in his state on Twitter; the hardest hit municipality was the town of Jojutla, where 12 people died.
“We are taking care of families,” he said. “Our united strength.”
People in Mexico City said they felt the earthquake when it struck about midday Tuesday. It sent thousands running into the streets as buildings evacuated.
“I was working when I felt the whole building shaking,” Luther Beatriz Ramirez, a government employee, told Bloomberg. “Everything started falling. It was like it was in ruins.”
“We ran out of the building; we were really scared.”
At least one building collapsed, facades fell on others, crushing vehicles.
In the Roma and Condesa neighborhoods in the capital, there was a smell of gas, and emergency officials asked people there not to light cigarettes. Widespread power outages were reported throughout the region.
Jamie Hernandez, general director of the state-owned utilities, said on Twitter that some 3.8 million people were without power.
Tony Gali, the governor of Pueblo state, confirmed there were casualties in his state. He said classes at all private and public institutions throughout the state were suspended.
“We deeply regret the loss of life following the earthquake,” he tweeted. “My government is acting and providing all the necessary support.”
There were reports some people were trapped inside collapsed buildings.
Mexico’s former ambassador to China, Jorge Guajardo, posted a video to Twitter showing one building instantly crumble.
Devastating images from Mexico City.
The BBC said multiple fires were reported throughout the region and Mexico City’s airport suspended operations.
Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto tweeted that he was in Oaxaca and immediately returning to Mexico City to “address the situation.” His plane, though, was unable to land in the capital, so he surveilled the damage from the air.
“I have called the national emergency committee to assess the situation and coordinate actions,” he said.
On Sept. 19, 1985, a 7-magnitude earthquake struck the greater Mexico City area, causing the deaths of at least 5,000 people. Tuesday’s quake comes two weeks after an 8.1-magnitude temblor killed dozens of people in Oaxaca state.
Tuesday’s quake hit while some people in the capital were carrying out earthquake drills to mark the anniversary of the 1985 disaster.
