A powerful earthquake struck southern Mexico on Tuesday, leaving one person dead. The US Geological Survey reported that the quake struck with a magnitude of 7.4, at a depth of 23 kilometers.
The epicenter was near Crucecita, in the southeastern state of Oaxaca, with shock waves felt as far away as Mexico City, some 700 kilometers (430 miles) distant, where it sent frightened residents rushing into the streets.
President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in a video published on social media said,
“It’s confirmed it was a 7.5 magnitude. Fortunately there’s no damage, in any case we’re going to continue to call for caution as there may be aftershocks and we must all take care without worrying.”
“Strategic installations didn’t suffer any damage, that is to say, ports, airports, refineries, hydroelectric plants, everything is in a good condition.”
Oaxaca Governor Alejandro Murat said, “there was a small collapse, one person was injured and another died,” adding that the state suffered minor damage.
The US Pacific Tsunami warning center initially said hazardous waves as high as three meters could strike anywhere within 1,000 kilometers of the quake’s epicenter, affecting the Pacific coast of Mexico and Central and South America. However, some hours later it said the threat had “largely passed.”
The quake hit Mexico amid the coronavirus pandemic issues. It has suffered more than 22,500 COVID-19 deaths, the second most in Latin America, and more than 185,000 cases.
Medical staff alongside patients were evacuated from some hospitals in the capital, however those suffering from the coronavirus alongside their carers remained isolated inside the buildings.
Jaime Gomez, a nurse at a hospital caring for coronavirus patients said , “All those that are in an area with COVID patients remain inside, only those of us who weren’t there at the time” have come out
The quake took many people by surprise in the capital, including some working from home due to virus lockdown measures. Many of the people that fled into the streets of the capital were wearing face masks.
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