Strong quake shakes tall buildings in Mexico City

Dantheman62 · 05-22-2009, 09:36 PM

By JULIE WATSON, Associated Press Writer Julie Watson, Associated Press Writer – 13 mins ago
MEXICO CITY – A strong earthquake swayed skyscrapers in Mexico City and rattled colonial buildings in neighboring Puebla state Friday, sending frightened people into the streets. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake had a magnitude of 5.7 and was centered 90 miles (140 kilometers) southeast of the capital. The Mexican seismological service measured it at 5.9.

Puebla state civil protection chief German Garcia said there were no reports of injuries or collapsed buildings near the epicenter: "There is absolute calm, zero damage."

Puebla city is a popular tourist destination known for its gilded churches and ornate "Talavera" pottery. One of the country's main Talavera producers, Uriarte, said the quake shook shelves but the merchandise emerged unscathed.

In Mexico City, 20-year-old office worker Mariana Rodriguez was in a 19th-floor bathroom when she felt her building sway.

"I saw in the mirror that everything was moving," she said. "The soap even fell down. We were really nervous, but they didn't let us leave the building."
One 15-story apartment building in the trendy Condesa neighborhood rocked so much that doors opened and slammed shut — something the residents said sounded like "ghosts."

Many ran outside across the metropolis of 20 million. Evacuation officials steered crowds away from power lines and other potential hazards, and anxious people waited for several minutes before returning indoors.

Others immediately got on Facebook and Twitter to tell friends and family they were OK. Some said their cell phone service was knocked out.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090522/...ico_earthquake

05-22-2009, 09:36 PM	#1
Dantheman62 Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: So. Cal. U.S. Posts: 4,205	Strong quake shakes tall buildings in Mexico City By JULIE WATSON, Associated Press Writer Julie Watson, Associated Press Writer – 13 mins ago MEXICO CITY – A strong earthquake swayed skyscrapers in Mexico City and rattled colonial buildings in neighboring Puebla state Friday, sending frightened people into the streets. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake had a magnitude of 5.7 and was centered 90 miles (140 kilometers) southeast of the capital. The Mexican seismological service measured it at 5.9. Puebla state civil protection chief German Garcia said there were no reports of injuries or collapsed buildings near the epicenter: "There is absolute calm, zero damage." Puebla city is a popular tourist destination known for its gilded churches and ornate "Talavera" pottery. One of the country's main Talavera producers, Uriarte, said the quake shook shelves but the merchandise emerged unscathed. In Mexico City, 20-year-old office worker Mariana Rodriguez was in a 19th-floor bathroom when she felt her building sway. "I saw in the mirror that everything was moving," she said. "The soap even fell down. We were really nervous, but they didn't let us leave the building." One 15-story apartment building in the trendy Condesa neighborhood rocked so much that doors opened and slammed shut — something the residents said sounded like "ghosts." Many ran outside across the metropolis of 20 million. Evacuation officials steered crowds away from power lines and other potential hazards, and anxious people waited for several minutes before returning indoors. Others immediately got on Facebook and Twitter to tell friends and family they were OK. Some said their cell phone service was knocked out. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090522/...ico_earthquake Last edited by Dantheman62; 05-22-2009 at 09:43 PM.