Sept. 8 (UPI) — The U.S. Geological Survey recorded a massive 8.1 earthquake near Mexico’s southern Pacific Coast Thursday night that has killed at least two people as shocks were felt throughout the country.
The earthquake’s epicenter was 102 miles west of Tapachula in southern Chiapas state, near the Mexico-Guatemala border. Local officials there told reporters that there were two confirmed deaths as a result of the quake.
The region where the earthquake hit closest to is one of the poorest in Mexico and the USGS said hosing construction will likely be impacted.
“Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are a mix of vulnerable and earthquake resistant construction,” the USGS said. “The predominant vulnerable building types are adobe block with concrete bond beam and mud wall construction.”
Así se observó el #temblor en el Monumento a la Independencia en la Ciudad de México
The quake caused buildings to sway as far away as Mexico City, the nation’s capital, causing people to run out into the streets to avoid being caught in structure collapses, according to social media reports. Mexican newspaper El Pais tweeted a video of Mexico City’s iconic Angel of Independence statue swaying during the quake.
“It’s a big quake. It’s about 70 miles offshore, but it’s not an unheard of quake,” USGS geophysicist Randy Baldwin told NBC News.
After the quake, the National Weather Service issued a tsunami warning off the coast of Chiapas.
The agency also said tsunami waves are possible off the Pacific coasts of Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras and Ecuador.
