An earthquake of magnitude 8.1 struck off the southern coast of Mexico late on Thursday, according to the US Geological Survey.<br /><br />A number of buildings suffered severe damage in parts of southern Mexico. Some of the worst initial reports came from Juchitan in Oaxaca state, where sections of the town hall, a hotel, a bar and other buildings were reduced to rubble.<br /><br />Rescue workers laboured through the night in badly-affected areas to check for people trapped in collapsed buildings.<br /><br />Magnitude 8 earthquake rocks southern Mexico and is felt as far away as Mexico City, the USGS says, issuing a tsunami warning pic.twitter.com/kmSxODwoRm— AFP news agency (@AFP) 8 septembre 2017<br /><br />President Enrique Pena Nieto told reporters the earthquake is the biggest in Mexico’s history.<br /><br />Was the capital affected?<br /><br />Windows were shattered at Mexico City airport. Power went out in several neighbourhoods of the capital, affecting more than one million people.<br /><br />The quake was apparently stronger than a devastating 1985 tremor that flattened swathes of the capital and killed thousands.<br /><br />However, this time damage to the city was limited.<br /><br />Earthquake off the coast of Chapas Mexico felt in Mexico City 8.0. via elbigdata pic.twitter.com/ejXMyFI8MD— Gilbert (gilbertmacias) 8 septembre 2017<br /><br />Was anyone killed?<br /><br />Yes. At least six people. Four people were killed in the southern state of Chiapas, according to Governor Manuel Velasco.<br /><br />Two children were killed in neighbouring Tabasco state says Governor Arturo Nunez.<br /><br />What about the tsunami warning?<br /><br />Small tsunami waves were triggered.<br /><br />The quake triggered waves as high as 0.7 metres, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.<br /><br />Mexican television showed images of the sea retreating about 50 metres. Some coastal areas have been evacuated.<br /><br />“The tsunami risk on the Chiapas coast does not represent a major risk, it is not very big, it is not a major worry,” President Enrique Pena Nieto said on local television.<br /><br />There was no tsunami threat for American Samoa and Hawaii, according to the US Tsunami Warning System. <br /><br />The national disaster agency of the Philippines put the country’s eastern seaboard on alert, but no evacuation was ordered.<br /><br />JUST IN: Tsunami confirmed in Mexico; largest wave is 0.7 metres (2.3 feet) – Pacific Tsunami Warning Center pic.twitter.com/tB6DudMxhE— Reuters World (@ReutersWorld) 8 septembre 2017<br /><br />And what about aftershocks?<br /><br />The president says more aftershocks are likely and people should carefully check their homes and offices for structural damage and for gas leaks.<br /><br />The USGS reported multiple aftershocks ranging in magnitude from 4.3 to 5.7.<br /><br />What about industrial infrastructure?<br /><br />State oil company Pemex says it is still checking for damage at its installations.<br /><br />President Enrique Pena Nieto says operations at the Salina Cruz refinery in the same region as the epicentre were temporarily suspended as a precautionary measure.<br /><br />What they are saying<br /><br />“I had never been anywhere where the earth moved so much. At first, I laughed, but when the lights went out I did not know what to do,” – Architect Luis Carlos Briceno told reporters.<br /><br />“It felt horrible, and I thought, ‘this is going to kill me’” – female resident of Mexico City.<br />
