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Magnitude 8.1 Earthquake Shakes Mexico, Triggers Small Tsunami

by Associated Press

   MEXICO CITY --

   A massive 8.2-magnitude earthquake hit off Mexico's southern coast,
   toppling houses in Chiapas state, causing at least five deaths and
   causing tsunami waves, officials said Friday.
   The quake was so strong -- the biggest Mexico has seen, President
   Enrique Pena Nieto said -- that it caused buildings to sway violently
   in Mexico's capital more than 1,000 kilometers (650 miles) away.
   Residents fled buildings, many in their pajamas, and gathered in
   frightened groups in the street. Some neighborhoods remained in
   darkness after electricity was knocked out.
   "The house moved like chewing gum and the light and internet went out
   momentarily," said Rodrigo Soberanes, who lives near San Cristobal de
   las Casas in Chiapas, a poor, largely indigenous state popular with
   tourists.

   'Quake strikes poor, indigenous area

   Chiapas Gov. Manuel Velasco said that three people were killed in San
   Cristobal, including two women who died in San Cristobal when a house
   and a wall collapsed. He called on people living near the coast to
   leave their houses as a protective measure.
   "There is damage to hospitals that have lost energy," he said. "Homes,
   schools and hospitals have been damaged."
   Tabasco Gov. Arturo Nunez said two children had died in his state. One
   of them was killed when a wall collapsed, and the other was a baby who
   died in a children's hospital that lost electricity, cutting off the
   infant's ventilator.

   'Felt in 1,000 kilometers away
   The quake was so powerful that frightened residents in Mexico City more
   than 1,000 kilometers (650 miles) away fled apartment buildings, often
   in their pajamas, and gathered in groups in the street.
   Buildings swayed strongly for more than one minute, loosening light
   fixtures from ceilings. Helicopters crisscrossed the sky above Mexico
   City with spotlights. Some neighborhoods kept electricity while others
   remained in darkness.

   Tsunami triggered
   The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck at 11:49 p.m. Thursday
   local time and its epicenter was 165 kilometers (102 miles) west of
   Tapachula in Chiapas not far from Guatemala. It had a depth of 69.7
   kilometers (43.31 miles).
   The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center says waves of one meter (3.3 feet)
   above the tide level were measured off Salina Cruz, Mexico. Smaller
   tsunami waves were observed on the coast or measured by ocean gauges in
   several other places. The center's forecast said Ecuador, El Salvador
   and Guatemala could see waves of a meter or less.

   Earlier, the U.S. Tsunami Warning System said hazardous tsunami waves
   were possible on the Pacific coasts of several Central American
   countries, including Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua,
   Panama and Honduras.

   However, there was no tsunami threat for the U.S. West Coast or for
   American Samoa and Hawaii, according to the U.S. Tsunami Warning
   System.

   As far as 14,000 km (8,700 miles) away in the Philippines, the national
   disaster agency put the country's entire eastern seaboard on alert. No
   forced evacuation was ordered, but residents were told to monitor
   emergency radio broadcasts.

   'Guatemala damage, deaths

   In neighboring Guatemala, President Jimmy Morales spoke on national
   television to call for calm while emergency crews checked for damage.
   "We have reports of some damage and the death of one person, even
   though we still don't have details," Morales said. He said the
   unconfirmed death occurred in San Marcos state near the border with
   Mexico.