MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico's president says there are no reports of major damage after the 7.4-magnitude earthquake that hit Mexico today.
It shook central and southern parts of the country, and left buildings swaying in Mexico City. The initial quake was followed by a less powerful, magnitude-5.1 aftershock that was also felt in the capital.
Frightened workers and residents poured into the streets of the capital when the quake hit. A pedestrian bridge collapsed and crushed a microbus in Mexico City, but there were no reports of deaths. A building in one neighborhood appeared to be on the verge of collapsing.
A hotel owner near the epicenter of the quake said it was the longest and strongest quake he ever felt.
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243-a-14-(Rich Briggs, research geologist, U.S. Geological Survey, in AP interview)-"in that area"-U.S. Geological Survey geologist Rich Briggs says there was a moderate earthquake centered near Ometepec, Mexico. ((Ometepec is pronounced oh-MEHT'-ih-pehk)) (20 Mar 2012)
<<CUT *243 (03/20/12)>> 00:14 "in that area"
244-a-12-(Rich Briggs, research geologist, U.S. Geological Survey, in AP interview)-"was probably light"-U.S. Geological Survey geologist Rich Briggs says the Mexico quake was outside major population centers. (20 Mar 2012)
<<CUT *244 (03/20/12)>> 00:12 "was probably light"
GRAPHICSBANK: MEXICO topographic map, with earthquake epicenter, MEXICO CITY and ACAPULCO locators, partial graphic (20 Mar 2012)
APPHOTO XEM113: A child cries after she and her classmates were evacuated from her school in the Roma neighborhood when an earthquake was felt in Mexico City, Tuesday March 20, 2012. A strong, long earthquake with epicenter in Guerrero state shook central southern Mexico on Tuesday, swaying buildings in Mexico City and sending frightened workers and residents into the streets. (AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini) (20 Mar 2012)
<<APPHOTO XEM113 (03/20/12)>>
APPHOTO XEM102: A woman comforts her children outside a school at the Roma neighborhood after a earthquake felt in Mexico City Tuesday March 20, 2012. A strong, long earthquake with epicenter in Guerrero state shook central southern Mexico on Tuesday, swaying buildings in Mexico City and sending frightened workers and residents into the streets..(AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini) (20 Mar 2012)
<<APPHOTO XEM102 (03/20/12)>>
