Mexico earthquake: 'Horror movie' magnitude 7.1 tremor rocks Acapulco – updates
MEXICO has been hit by a powerful earthquake, killing at least one person and causing buildings to sway from the tremor.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.0 about 48 kilometres inland from Acapulco.
There have been reports of buildings swaying in the capital, Mexico City, nearly 200 miles from the earthquake.
Electricity was knocked out in some neighbourhoods, Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum told Canal 40 television station.
One user responded to the incident on Twitter: "Like a horror movie."
Buildings have been evacuated in Mexico City 240 miles away due to shaking.
According to the USGS, tsunami waves are possible in Guerrero.
The USGS said the quake struck 11 miles northeast of the resort of Acapulco, Guerrero.
A video shared by a meteorologist shows power flashes caused by the earthquake.
Hector Astudillo, governor of Guerrero state, said there were currently no reports of serious damage.
Roma Sur resident told Reuters: "It was terrible. It really reminds me of the 1985 quake every time something like this happens.”
Additional reporting by Maria Ortega and David Atkins.
THIS BLOG IS NOW CLOSED.
9:25am update: Airport resumes service
The Mexico City International Airport reported that activities have already been resumed after activating the security protocols earlier.
9:10am update: Presidents reports no damages or deaths
"Fortunately there is no major damage in that state, only falling stones and fences, and same in Morelos and Oaxaca, there is no damage," explained President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
In a message from the National Palace the president reporters that, according to the Mexican Army, there is no significant damage to infrastructure in the various military regions of the country.
8.45am update: Tsunami alert cancelled
The Tsunami alert has been cancelled after the 7.1 quakes based on the analysis and observation of the sea level in the part house.
Coastal stales have presented only moderate to weak currents.
������.@SEMAR_mx informa:
— Protección Civil México (@CNPC_MX) September 8, 2021
Tras el #sismo de magnitud 7.1 en #Guerrero, con base a los análisis y observaciones del nivel del mar en la ultima hora, los estados costeros del #Pacifico presentaron corrientes de moderadas a débiles, POR LO QUE CANCELA LA ALERTA DE #TSUNAMI.������ pic.twitter.com/NLOUL2SCDT
8:20am update: Earthquake felt 230 miles away
People in Mexico City felt the magnitude-seven quake 370km away.
Residents and tourists spilled out into the streets from their homes and hotels.
7:50am update: "Apocalyptic" scenes
Video footage shows the sky turning blue with mystery flashes as the scenes unfolded this morning.
Horrifying videos have been shared on social media with one user writing: "The videos of the earthquake in Mexico look apocalyptic.
7:30am update: Relatively shallow earthquake
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake, initially measured at a magnitude of 7.4 and later downgraded to 7.0, was relatively shallow, just 12 miles below the surface, which would have amplified the shaking effect.
Aspecto del hospital El Quemado de la @SSaludGro en #Acapulco #Guerrero tras el #Sismo este #7Septiembre pic.twitter.com/pJZflVmDjh
— Ezequiel Flores (@EzequielFloresC) September 8, 2021
7.20am update: Residents in shock
"We were in shock," said Andrea del Valle, who was sitting on a pavement with her partner after rushing out of a cinema.
"There were no earthquake alarms, so we felt it when it was already happening."
6.46am update: Tsunami threat over
Pacific Tsunami Warning Center says "there is no longer a tsunami threat from this earthquake." A 1.6-foot tsunami wave was observed earlier in Acapulco
6.35am update: Hospitals forced to evacuate patients
The earthquake has forced hospitals to evacuate patients onto the streets, in case the buildings collapse.
In a new post, a medical assistant from a hospital filmed patients on hospital beds that had been wheeled outside.
Dos Torres de energía eléctrica se cayeron en el Valle de Chalco dejando mucha gente sin el servicio, el cual poco a poco se repone. #Sismo #SismoCDMX también hubo daños en otras localidades sin que se registraron hasta el momento víctimas fatales pic.twitter.com/dvgTWmGiEw
— borderlínea.com.mx (@borderlineason) September 8, 2021
6.25am update: More people left without electricity after further damage to power grid
Two electric power towers fell in the Chalco Valley, leaving many people without service, which is gradually being replaced.
There was also damage in other locations without fatalities so far.
Power flashes from the earthquake in #Mexico. ������ @franz_gomez pic.twitter.com/ESXPpIgmSE
— Michael Armstrong (@KOCOMichael) September 8, 2021
6.05am update: High rise building caught on film swaying during Mexico earthquake
More footage is emerging of the Mexico earthquake. In one terrifying clip, a multi-storey building can be seen perilously swaying as the earthquake strikes.
Throughout the quake, the night's sky was lit up with colourful flashes of light. But what were they?
Friedemann Freund, a professor of physics at the University of San Jose, has studied this phenomenon, and has analysed the sightings of 65 'earthquake lights' around the world.
������������|SISMO EN MEXICO: pic.twitter.com/Pg9D8EiqPE
— Alerta News ������ (@Alerta_News_) September 8, 2021
5:55am update: Video shared of people trapped inside a cable car
A video has also been shared online of people trapped inside a cable car suspended during the earthquake in Mexico.
#NOW | This is how they lived the earthquake in Mexico from a cable car. #Sismo #earthquake #Mexico #teleferico #cablecar #acapulco pic.twitter.com/5L5ouqibhN
— global_news01 ������ (@global_news01) September 8, 2021
5:25am update: First death by the earthquake confirmed
Guerrero State governor Hector Astudillo confirmed one man has been killed in the aftermath of the tremor.
The Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) has reported 735,000 users do not have electricity in Mexico City totalling around 22 percent of the population.
Earthquakes have previously devastated the region in 2017 and 1985, the latter of which, a magnitude-8.0, cost the lives of an estimated 9,500 people in and around Mexico City.