The epicentre of the earthquake was approximately 75 miles from Mexico City.
A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck central Mexico, approximately 75 miles southeast of Mexico City, on Tuesday afternoon, causing buildings to shake in the country’s capital city.
Footage recorded by journalist Gerardo Lazos in his home on Tuesday afternoon showed the inside of the building shaking quite violently for a few seconds while an alarm sounded; a number of buildings in the city were also without power for a period of time.
Espantoso terremoto. pic.twitter.com/6jTZWQHdei
— Gerardo Lazos M. (@gerardo_lazos) September 19, 2017
Clip via Twitter/Gerardo Lazos M. via Storyful
According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake struck the Puebla region of Mexico, just a few miles away from the town of Raboso.
Reports suggest that 42 people have died and that people were trapped in buildings in Mexico City as a result.
On his Twitter account, President Enrique Peña Nieto said that he had called the national emergency Committee to assess the situation and coordinate actions and urged people in the region to avoid travel on streets to allow emergency vehicles to pass.
En vuelo a Oaxaca. Regreso de inmediato a la Ciudad de México para atender la situación por sismo.
— Enrique Peña Nieto (@EPN) September 19, 2017
He convocado al Comité Nacional de Emergencias para evaluar la situación y coordinar acciones. El PlanMX ha sido activado.
— Enrique Peña Nieto (@EPN) September 19, 2017
Antes de regresar a su vivienda o edificio, revisen si presentan daños, desconecten la luz y cierren el gas.
— Enrique Peña Nieto (@EPN) September 19, 2017
Importante evitar circular por calles y avenidas para permitir el paso a los vehículos de emergencia.
— Enrique Peña Nieto (@EPN) September 19, 2017
The earthquake comes a little over a week after a magnitude 8.1 earthquake struck off the southern coast of Mexico; at least 61 people were killed as a result.
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