The southern coastline of Mexico was hit with a 7.4 magnitude earthquake on Tuesday, collapsing buildings, sending thousands into the streets, and prompting an evacuation. The quake had also left five people dead, according to Mexico's National Civil Protection Service. The people were warned to lookout for the possibility of tsunami and landslides.
The powerful quake happened at 10:29 a.m. local time (11:29 a.m.. E.T.)along the southern Pacific coast of Mexico with epicenter at 7 miles south-southwest of Santa Maria Zapotitlan in Oaxaca state.
Mexico's national seismological service reported that the magnitude of the earthquake was a 7.5. The U.S. Geological Survey (U.S.G.S.) estimated the magnitude at 7.4, but the agency notes that it is not unusual for measurements to vary. Earlier readings measured a magnitude of 7.7, but it has been revised to 7.4.
Damage from the quake is reported in several general hospitals in Pochutla, Puerto Escondido, and Pinotepa Nacional. Several community hospitals were also damaged. According to Oaxaca state Gov. Alejandro Murat, two of the damaged hospitals have been treating with coronavirus patients.
The first death was reported after a structure collapsed just east of Huatulco, a popular tourist destination. Murat later said a second death after a house collapsed in San Juan Ozolotepec, a tiny mountain village.
Pemex, the state-run oil company, reported that the flames were quickly controlled as a fire broke out in its refinery in the Pacific Coast of Salina Cruz, which is near the epicenter. One worker was injured from the incident.
U.S.G.S. estimates that there are likely 100 fatalities and damage in properties amounting to less than $100 million. The estimate, however, does not include the impact of potential tsunamis on the coastline.
On a Twitter video, Mexico President Andrés Manuel López Obrador mentioned minimal damage "collapses of structures, broken glass, fallen signages, and walls but nothing serious."López Obrador also reported 147 minor aftershocks as of the early afternoon on Tuesday and warned that more aftershocks are expected in the coming days. The President, however, urged everyone to pay attention to further seismic warnings and remain calm. "I hope, and I wish with all my soul that there will be no more damaging aftershocks," he said.
In Mexico City, which is 190 miles north of the epicenter, residents were warned with the sound of seismic alarms as a signal to exit the building. Helicopters hovered over downtown, and police patrols sounded their sirens.
Hours after the earthquake, several groups of people remained in the streets and sidewalks fearing the aftershocks.
The earthquake was also felt in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.
A potential threat of a tsunami was warned by the U.S.G.S. along the coast of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. The advisory was later recalled. The ocean markers of the agency recorded small seismic waves after the quake, which the agency deems as too small to have a noticeable effect.
On Monday night, an earthquake of magnitude 4.9 also struck the same region.