Mexico: 7,5 magnitude earthquake centered on Oaxaca State

A magnitude 7,5 earthquake shook Mexico on Friday, with the government saying minor damage had been done to buildings in southern Oaxaca and no casualties were reported.

The epicenter was reported 145 kilometers south of Puerto Escodino on the Pacific coast in southern Oaxaca and had a depth of 24,6 kilometers, according to the US Geological Survey.

Interior Minister Alfonso Navarete said some surface damage had been caused to buildings in Oaxaca, and the governor noted that about 100.000 people had been found without power.

In Mexico City, buildings shook and sirens sounded, and the vibration was felt as far away as Guatemala in the south.

In September, the worst earthquake in decades hit the country, killing a total of 366 people, most of them in the Mexican capital, leaving thousands homeless and dozens of buildings destroyed.

 A military helicopter crashed, the interior minister survived

A military helicopter carrying the Mexican interior minister and the governor of the southern state of Oaxaca crashed on Friday, killing two people on the ground, but senior officials survived. The helicopter was flying over the area where the 7,2 magnitude earthquake occurred earlier, in order for the officials to control the magnitude of the damage.

Interior Minister Alfonso Navarete told Televisa that he and Oakaha Governor Alejandro Murat were not seriously injured in the crash as the helicopter was trying to land.

The ministry issued a statement via Twitter stating that the two people on the ground were killed when the helicopter crashed.

Source