7.2 quake hits Mexico, minor damage reported

A 7.2 magnitude quake rocked Mexico at 17:39 on Friday, a prolonged rumble that the government said had caused minor damage to buildings in the southern state of Oaxaca, but with no preliminary reports of deaths.

The epicenter was close to a surfer resort on the Pacific coast in the southern state of Oaxaca and had a depth of 15.3 miles (24.6 km), according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Both the south of Mexico and the capital are still reeling from earthquakes that caused widespread damage in September.

Interior Minister

Alfonso Navarrete said Friday’s quake caused some superficial damage to buildings in Oaxaca, but no deaths had been reported .

Images in the media appeared to show bricks and rubble fallen from buildings, and products tumbling off shelves in a supermarket, while tremors were felt as far away as Guatemala to the south.

In Mexico City , tall buildings swayed for more than a minute as seismic alarms sounded , with older structures in the chic Condesa neighborhood knocking into each other, and some cracks appearing in plaster and paintwork.

59 aftershocks

have been produced so far with no major incidents or deaths reported. The quake was felt in the southern state of Guerrero in the capital city of Chilpancingo and the tourist resort of Acapulco, in the southwestern state of Oaxaca and center states of Puebla and Morelos .

Public transportation systems

Metro and Metrobus have resumed operations .

Risk of tsumani has been discarded in the southern coasts of Mexico.

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