In Mexico: Major earthquake hits southern coast

A series of smaller quakes, including one magnitude 5.7, reportedly struck the same region in the minutes following the larger temblor.

A major earthquake has reportedly struck the coast of southern Mexico late Thursday night, September 7, 2017.

In a report by Buzzfeed, the earthquake caused various degrees of destruction as well as fears of deaths and tsunamis.

The report quoted the US Geological Survey as saying that the 8.1 temblor struck off the coast of the state of Chiapas, at a depth of about 20 miles.

Furthermore, it was reported that the epicenter of the quake, which hit shortly before midnight, was located about 102 miles west of the city of Tapachula.

 

It was also reported that the quake left significant casualties and economic loss in the state of Chiapas.

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Mexico City reportedly felt the effect of the quake as journalists reported power outages as well as images showing buildings and other structures swaying violently.

A series of smaller quakes, including one magnitude 5.7, reportedly struck the same region in the minutes following the larger temblor.

Meanwhile, the governor of Chiapas, Manuel Velasco Coello, announced on Twitter that schools would be closed Friday until they could be inspected.

Following the quake, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has warned that hazardous tsunami waves more than 9 feet high were possible along the coast of Mexico.

The NOAA reportedly announced that Tsunami waves higher than 3 feet were possible in Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, American Samoa, Fiji, and other places across the Pacific.

SOURCE - PULSE.NG posted by Campus94