Mexico earthquake: Magnitude-8.0 quake strikes off country's southern coast, sparking tsunami warnings

Strongest quake since 1985 strikes off Mexican coast

A massive earthquake hit off the coast of southern Mexico late on Thursday night, causing buildings to sway violently and people to flee into o the streets in panic as far away as the capital city.

The US Geological Survey said the quake had a magnitude of 8.0 and its epicentre was 165 km (102 miles) west of Tapachula in southern Chiapas state not far from Guatemala. It had a depth of 35 km (22 miles).

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The US Tsunami Warning System said hazardous tsunami waves were possible on the Pacific coasts of several Central American countries.

Waves were possible within the next three hours for Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Honduras and Ecuador, it said. There was no tsunami threat for the US West Coast.

Mexico's civil protection agency said it was the strongest earthquake to hit the country since a devastating 1985 tremor that toppled buildings and killed thousands.

Civil protection officials were checking for damage in Chiapas, but the quake was so powerful that frightened residents in Mexico City more than 1,000 km (650 miles) away fled apartment buildings, often in their pyjamas, and gathered in groups in the street.

Around midnight buildings swayed strongly for more than minute, loosening light fixtures from ceilings. Helicopters crisscrossed the sky above Mexico City with spotlights. Some neighbourhoods kept electricity while others remained in darkness.

The US Tsunami Warning System said the earthquake was a potential tsunami threat to several Central American countries, including the Pacific coastlines of Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, El Salvador and Costa Rica.

It added that the threat was still being evaluated for Hawaii, Guam and other Pacific islands. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the earthquake's epicentre was over 600 miles away near the small town of Pijijiapan in southern Chiapas state. It was at a depth of around 20 miles, it added.