7.5 magnitude Earthquake Jolts Southern Mexico

[VakeelSaab]

The 7.5-magnitude quake, centered in the state of Oaxaca, caused buildings to sway in Mexico City, but there were no immediate reports of serious damage.

The quake struck at 10:29 a.m. local time near the state of Oaxaca. Officials warned of a “potential threat” of a tsunami along the coast.

 

The quake poses a possible threat of a tsunami.

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said there was a “potential threat” of a tsunami along the coasts of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

Powerful offshore earthquakes can trigger devastating tsunamis like the ones that hit Fukushima, Japan in 2011, and Aceh province in 2004, but it is difficult to predict which quakes will cause such destructive waves.