7.6 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Mexico

MEXICO CITY (AP) — A strong 7.4-magnitude earthquake hit Mexico on Tuesday, shaking central and southern parts of the country, collapsing a pedestrian bridge and swaying buildings in Mexico City. Plaster fell from ceilings and windows broke in the center of the capital, but the president said there were no immediate reports of major damage.

The initial quake near the borders of Oaxaca (it is important to note that this is the location where President Barack Obama’s daughter, Malia, allegedly has or currently is visiting) and Guerrero states was followed by a less powerful, magnitude-5.1 aftershock that also was felt in the capital.

Frightened workers and residents poured into the streets of the capital just minutes after noon local time (18:02 GMT). Telephone service was down in the city and throughout the area where the quake was felt.

7.9 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Mexico

Workers and residents gather at the Angel de la Independencia square after evacuating buildings during a earthquake felt in Mexico City Tuesday March 20, 2012. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)

About 40 passengers were stranded for a short time on the Mexico City airport air train, but later released. The airport closed for a time but officials said there was no runway damage and they resumed operations.

A pedestrian bridge collapsed and crushed a microbus in Mexico City, but there were still no reports of deaths. A building in the neighborhood of Condesa appeared to be on the verge of collapsing.

The quake was felt strongly in southern Guerrero state, where the epicenter was located about 15 miles (25 kilometers) from the city of Ometepec. Neighboring Oaxaca state also shook heavily, including with two aftershocks.

Governors in both states reported on their Twitter accounts that there were not major reports of damage.

In Huajuapan, Guerrero, near the epicenter, hotel owner Marco Antonio Estrada also reported shaken-up guests but no major damage. He said it was longest and strongest he ever felt. People ran out of their homes and cars.

“I have problems with pressure, I felt I was going to faint,” said Rosa Maria Lopez Velazquez, 62, outside a mall in Mexico City.

The quake was felt strongly in southern Guerrero state, near where the epicenter was located about 15 miles (25 kilometers) from the city of Ometepec. Neighboring Oaxaca state also shook heavily, including two aftershocks.

“It was very strong, but we didn’t see anything fall,” said Irma Ortiz, who runs a guesthouse in Oaxaca. She said their telephones are down, and that the quake shook them side-to-side.

The U.S. Geological Survey set the preliminary magnitude of the first quake at 7.4 and said the epicenter was 11 miles underground. The survey set the aftershock at 5.1.

7.9 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Mexico

A woman comforts her children outside a school at the Roma neighborhood after a earthquake felt in Mexico City Tuesday March 20, 2012. A strong, long earthquake with epicenter in Guerrero state shook central southern Mexico on Tuesday, swaying buildings in Mexico City and sending frightened workers and residents into the streets..(AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini)

U.S. President Barack Obama’s oldest daughter, Malia, was reported and safe while on vacation with a school group in Oaxaca.

Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard’s Twitter account said the water system and other “strategic services” were not experiencing problems.

Groups of women hugged and cried at Mexico City’s Angel of Independence monument, where hundreds of people evacuated from office buildings said they never had felt such a strong earthquake. Others typed ferociously on their Blackberries.

Samantha Rodriguez, a 37-year old environmental consultant, was evacuated from the 11th floor on the Angel Tower office building.

“I thought it was going to pass rapidly but the walls began to thunder and we decided to get out,” she said.

Mexico City’s airport was closed for a short time but there was no damage to runways and operations were returning to normal.

In Oaxaca, Sylvia Valencia was teaching Spanish to five adult students at the Vinigulaza language school when the earthquake hit.

“Some of us sat down, others ran out,” she said. “It was hard, it was strong and it was long.”

After the shaking stopped, however, she said they found no damage, not in their own classrooms, nor outside in the historical center of the city, so they went back to class.

Celia Galicia, who works at the U.S. consular office in Oaxaca, had just flown in from Mexico City when it hit.

She said there was panic in the airport, and a dash for the doors. But she said that she saw no damage at the airport and no one was hurt. She says one building in downtown Oaxaca appears to be damaged and has been evacuated.

She added that they’ve had two strong aftershocks, and that in downtown Oaxaca most people are out on the street at this point.

“It started shaking badly,” she said.

Comments (52)

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  • AllAmericanGirl22
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 3:44pm

    Thank God there is not much damage.

    Report Post » AllAmericanGirl22  
  • Plan B
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 3:40pm

    Interesting a quake in Indonesia too……

    Report Post »  
    • mwilson85
      Posted on March 20, 2012 at 3:47pm

      Probably means we will end up getting an Earthquake here in SoCal really soon… crap…

      Report Post »  
  • lionshield
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 3:34pm

    it is not God’s will that any should perish,but come to salvation.
    God is a give of life ,not of death. those who prodicted this earth-quake where only one
    day off target,and couple of hours. good job guys ,keep on trying . your 180 days
    threoy is right on target !!! you little off on region area,I believe because the elite are listening
    to you videos messages. lie-little bit, by a day or two because of elite!! -about the timeing

    Report Post » lionshield  
  • Searchingforthelight
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 3:26pm

    I don’t understand why we cannot act like adults and try to get along, especially when children are involved! What is wrong with people? I just wish people would work together on things, we all might be in for a pretty bumpy ride soon. Everyone should be praying for the people who are there, all of them.

    Report Post »  
  • Gamaliel
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 3:22pm

    God’s way of bringing the Obama kid in Mexico story back?

    Report Post »  
    • @leftfighter
      Posted on March 20, 2012 at 3:47pm

      Nah! That was just Moochelle’s big @$$ butt’s plane landing to meet Malia on yet another vacation.

      Report Post » @leftfighter  
    • TraceyInAZ
      Posted on March 20, 2012 at 4:11pm

      THANK YOU @leftfighter !!! I needed a good laugh today! :)

      Report Post » TraceyInAZ  
  • Cabo King
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 3:18pm

    It’s gods way of telling her to get the hell out of Mexico, they have enough problems without the Obama’s there stinking up the place

    Report Post » Cabo King  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 3:14pm

    God be with the people in the area; especially if a larger one, or many other quakes hit.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • Leperus
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 3:12pm

    Nothing but class on The Blaze at all times.

    Report Post » Leperus  
  • KevINtampa
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 3:11pm

    Chinese angels playing a HAARP?

    Report Post »  
    • KevINtampa
      Posted on March 20, 2012 at 3:23pm

      I’m still convinced the “condensation” trail over LA 3 years ago was a Chinese shot across our bow because we were talking of printing more money and they explicitly told us it was a bad idea.

      This could very well be them using their HAARP technology to send our dear leaders a message; comply or else.

      This is the wrong forum for such non-sense, I’m sure abovetopsecret is already clamoring over this possibility. Conspiracy theories are fun though…and remember they are only fun because there is no truth. When a population is with held the truth, any lie is just as logically the truth as any other lie, even the “wacky” ones…

      Report Post »  
    • chips1
      Posted on March 20, 2012 at 4:00pm

      I still have a feeling that the U.S. is being blackmailed. Something is being held over our heads and if it ever is revealed, panic will set in. All the puzzle pieces are there, and it’s not a pretty picture.

      Report Post »  
  • dgremark12
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 3:08pm

    Can we get pics of BO screaming like a beac h!!!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • Misha
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 3:07pm

    Ya know, the Blaze is getting as bad as the liberal media – always tap dancing around the elephant in the room, trying to not sound biased or using language that might be deemed too strong. This earthquake originated in Oaxaca – not Mexico City or Acapulco. Google it. And Oaxaca is exactly where Malia Obama, her 12 friends and 25 secret service agents are reportedly staying. Just effing say it, Blaze.

    Report Post »  
  • ChildofJesus
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 3:06pm

    funny Malia is in mexico now this happens!

    on a serious note tho I hope no one was hurt.

    Report Post »  
  • T-2
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 3:02pm

    Michelle is coming to pick up her kid.

    Report Post »  
    • Daniel
      Posted on March 20, 2012 at 3:06pm

      Ow!!! I like you comment. That‘ll teach them Mexican’s not to take pictures of her daugther.

      Report Post »  
  • lukeohio
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 2:47pm

    Why is it that wherever any Obama goes there something horrible happens lol

    Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on March 20, 2012 at 2:56pm

      My first thought … oh my God .. someone trying to get his attention or ours!

      OMG 2012!

      Report Post »  
  • Diablo4965
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 2:41pm

    I‘m suprised the White House didn’t block the story.

    Report Post » Diablo4965  
  • guntotinsquaw
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 2:40pm

    And this is why you don’t send your children on vacation without a parent!!!

    Report Post » guntotinsquaw  
    • dessertgirl
      Posted on March 20, 2012 at 2:54pm

      Oaxaca is a mere five-hour bus ride (SLOW through hilly country that looks very much like the pine trees in New England USA), It is very close. Mexico City still hasn’t repaired a lot of the earthquake damage from tremblers over 20 years ago. The buildings crumble like cookies. They are built with adobe bricks and they are very old.

      Report Post »  
    • TomFerrari
      Posted on March 20, 2012 at 3:05pm

      Heavenly Father, please watch over somebody, but I can’t tell You who, and somebody else, again Lord, I cannot tell You who, while they are somewhere, but I cannot tell You where.

      Seriously, though, let’s pray for our fellow man in Mecico, for their safety and for their families’ comfort.

      Remember, on top of being our fellow man, these are law-abiding people. They are not the ones who entered another country illegally. We are all God’s children.

      With charity(love) for all; with animosity toward none.

      Report Post » TomFerrari  
  • 1casawizard
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 2:40pm

    That’s probably worth $2B from US.

    Report Post » 1casawizard  
  • wewantchillywilly
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 2:39pm

    hopefully it collapsed a bunch of drug tunnels and hide aways.

    Report Post »  
  • Tri-ox
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 2:39pm

    This quake was very near Oaxaca – the area in which Malia Obama will soon be enjoying her taxpayer-funded, luxury vacation.

    Report Post » Tri-ox  
    • Itsjusttim
      Posted on March 20, 2012 at 2:45pm

      Maybe God’s saying something there huh?

      Report Post » Itsjusttim  
    • COFemale
      Posted on March 20, 2012 at 2:47pm

      She is already there. Makes you wonder. Perhaps a higher up is sending a shot over the bow?

      Report Post » COFemale  
  • Paul
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 2:39pm

    Mark 13:8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows….

    Report Post » Paul  
  • Mark0331
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 2:38pm

    Still feel better about sending your daughter there, Barry O?.

    Report Post » Mark0331  
  • EqualJustice
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 2:34pm

    Another reason NOT to send your 13 yr. old and her dozen friends off to Mexico, BESIDE the fact that the State Department has WARNED you about the VIOLENCE! Maybe we will be lucky and Mexico will fall off into the Ocean? Global Climate Change fanatics would be happy, too. It would be a TWOFER! I WILL NEVER AGAIN SPEND MY MONEY IN MEXICO! Too many other STATES like AZ that could use my bucks to continue the illegal alien invasion!

    Report Post » EqualJustice  
  • Locked
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 2:33pm

    In before:

    1. God’s will
    2. Karma
    3. Obama did it for his reelection campaign

    Report Post »  
  • lukerw
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 2:31pm

    An Obama has Landed!

    Report Post » lukerw  
    • WeMustNeverForget
      Posted on March 20, 2012 at 2:43pm

      ROTFLOL!! Per the USGS the epicenter is Oaxaca, Mexico…. Isn‘t that where Obama’s daughter is vacationing? Too strange!!!

      Report Post »  
    • COFemale
      Posted on March 20, 2012 at 2:49pm

      No you are wrong. It is next door though, a couple hundred miles or so.

      Report Post » COFemale  
    • Paul
      Posted on March 20, 2012 at 2:49pm

      I don’t think Moochelle was there was she ?

      Report Post » Paul  
  • Itsjusttim
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 2:30pm

    Like I said, you have to pay the Reaper.

    Report Post » Itsjusttim  
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