Quake knocks out Mexico power
13/04/2007 11:41  - (SA)  

'Unusual waves' prompt warning Quake 'lifts whole island' Quake 'lifts whole island' Quake shakes Afghanistan Quake shakes Afghanistan Killer quake rocks Japan Killer quake rocks Japan Six injured in Moz quakes Six injured in Moz quakes

Acapulco - A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.0 shook Mexico early on Friday, sending thousands of tourists in Acapulco fleeing into the streets in panic and knocking out electricity as far away as the capital.

There were no immediate reports of injuries from the quake, centred in the Pacific coastal state of Guerrero.

"Oh man, we felt it. We jumped out of bed and went into the garden. I was fast asleep. It really shook. Things fell off shelves," said Acapulco resident Anna Archdale de Palazuelos.

Tourists, many of them in nightgowns and pyjamas, were evacuated from their hotels in Acapulco, where 20 000 homes lost electricity.

Power also went down in some areas of Mexico City, which was devastated by a 8.1 magnitude earthquake in 1985 that killed around 10 000 people.

Inhabitants in the capital's central Tlatelolco district, badly hit 22 years ago, swarmed out into a main square. Mexican radio said the windows of some homes there were broken.

Friday's quake hit at 12:42 local time (05:42 GMT) and was centred 65km northwest of Acapulco, the biggest city in Guerrero and home to around a million people.

Fire services in the city rushed out to check for damage. Authorities in the state capital Chilpancingo said they had no reports of serious damage or casualties.

What is this?    Yahoo    Digg  Del.icio.us  Facebook Brought to you by OUTsurance Car Insurance News24 on mobile News24 on facebook profile