Strong earthquake hits Mexico, kills three people

A strong earthquake hit Mexico, centered in Guerrero, disrupting the nation’s capital and Acapulco, shaking buildings and leading to at least three deaths on Saturday, the Associated Press reported.

The earthquake measured 6.5 in magnitude and officials said there were no reports of widespread damage. Initially the earthquake was measured at 6.8 by the US Geological Service, but was downgraded twice. The final magnitude is capable of causing severe damage, although the depth of this temblor lessened its impact, the AP reported.

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“All services in Mexico City are functioning normally,” Mexican President Felipe Calderon said on Twitter at 10 pm that night, Bloomberg BusinessWeek reported.

An 18-year-old was killed in Iguala, Guerrero, when a restaurant roof collapsed, and a 25-year-old was killed on the Chilpancingo-Acapulco highway, Bloomberg BusinessWeek reported. A third death was reported in the small town of Ixcateopan, the AP reported.

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A secondary highway was blocked in two places and high-rises swayed in the center of Mexico City for more than a minute, the AP reported. Mexico City’s mayor, Marcelo Ebrard, tweeted that no major damage had been reported and power failed in some parts of the city.

Authorities in Acapulco said they found no structural damage and had no reports of injuries in the Pacific resort, which was about 87 miles from the quake’s epicenter, the AP reported.

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