Earthquake Shakes Mexico City

[DinoDoc]

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - An earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale rocked Mexico City on Tuesday night, the seismological service at Mexico City's UNAM University said.

It said the epicenter was in the Pacific state of Colima. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties, but an earthquake of that strength is capable of causing major damage.

Does anyone have additional information?

[Dis]

that's a big one isn't it?

turning to CNN

[Dis]

edit: foxnews shows text graphic showing 7.6

They say it lasted 20 seconds and immediately knocked out power and phones.

[Thrawn05]

QUOTE:
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Originally posted by Dissident
edit: foxnews shows text graphic showing 7.6
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{Adds another win for FNC}.

[Edan]

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - A strong earthquake (news - web sites) measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale rocked Mexico City at 8:09 p.m. on Tuesday (9:09 p.m. EST), cutting power in parts of the city and sending panicked residents out of their homes and buildings in tears, witnesses said.

There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties, but sirens of emergency vehicles could be heard in the streets of the huge capital.

The Seismological Service at Mexico City's UNAM University told Reuters the quake measured 7.6 on the Richter scale and was centered in the Pacific state of Colima.

A 7.6 earthquake is capable of causing widespread damage.

A Civil Protection Agency spokesman told Reuters the quake was felt in the central and Pacific states of Mexico, Michoacan and Jalisco as well as Colima and in the capital.

"Until this time we have no reports of damages or victims," he said.

Carmen Rangel, director of the agency, told local radio station that the quake lasted seven minutes.

Residents said power had been cut in large parts of the city. They said motorists pulled over to the side of the road to listen to radio news reports of the quake.

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=574&ncid=721&e=1&u=/nm/20030122/wl_nm/quake_mexico_dc

[Dis]

7 minutes is definately innacurrate I would think. I have never heard of an earthquake lasting that long. I'll take Foxnews estimate of 20 seconds.

[Edan]

Originally posted by Dissident
7 minutes is definately innacurrate I would think. I have never heard of an earthquake lasting that long. I'll take Foxnews estimate of 20 seconds.

Maybe they were refering to aftershocks as well?

[Dis]

probably

[MichaeltheGreat]

There are different frequencies of seismic waves which characterize earthquakes.

P and S waves are high frequency, short duration, and characteristic in all earthquakes. The give the sharp jarring sensation people typically associate with earthquakes.

L waves are much lower frequency (I've "surfed" on a rolling, waving concrete slab being distorted by L waves), found only in relatively deep focus earthquakes, and the steady rolling of the ground can last for several minutes as the energy of the bedrock acceleration is dissipated.

There's an article (if you can read Spanish) and video on reforma's site

Aftershocks are distinct events, and can be expected to last for days in a quake of this size.

[Dis]

any other news. The local news said it was like 7.8. but local news is notoriously bad. I haven't checked any websites yet.

[LTEC!]

The earthquake was felt through several regions, the state of Colima being the most affected. There are power outtages and phone lines down as well as Cellular communications, so information regarding the most affected area is being slow.
A few buildings were affected in Mexico City, the most singular one being one in construction that leaned against a five-star Hotel.
About 200 exchange students visiting Mexico City got stressed out and decided to checkout en-masse from their hotel and got everyone in a frenzy.
The president has given the secretary of Defense the task of protection and account of damages.
Different cities civil protection services officers are patrolling to assess damages and serve warnings.
To sum it up. It was bad in certain parts. Everyone is shaken up. Lots of people are having nervous crisis.

My aunt in Mexico City claims it was different (oscillatory) than the one in '85 but was felt more forcefully on the surface. Most everyone is alright but worried.

[Dis]

that seems like a bad earthquake. No one died?

What was that quake in Northridge California? I thought that was like 7.8.

[Az]

on a related note, did anyone hear about this new device that gives earthquake warning, up to a couple of days before the tremors? I've heard that they were going to test it in South America some time.

[Edan]

Originally posted by Dissident
that seems like a bad earthquake. No one died?

I heard on the news there were 20-something deaths (so far).