World
08:08, 09-Sep-2017
At least 60 killed in Mexico quake as hundreds of aftershocks compound misery
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An 8.2-magnitude earthquake which rocked Mexico on Thursday night has left at least 60 people dead, and it has been followed by 337 aftershocks within 13 hours, Mexico's national earthquake service, SSN, said on Friday.
No Chinese nationals have been reported injured in the earthquake, the Chinese Embassy in Mexico confirmed.
The powerful quake, which affected at least 50 million people in 12 states, mostly affected the southern states of Oaxaca and Chiapas.
Buildings collapsed after an 8.2-magnitude earthquake hit Mexico's Pacific coast overnight on September 7, 2017./ AFP Photo
Buildings collapsed after an 8.2-magnitude earthquake hit Mexico's Pacific coast overnight on September 7, 2017./ AFP Photo
Experts from SSN said that the worst earthquake felt in Mexico in a century lasted 135 seconds from its epicenter all the way to Mexico City, over 400 km away.
The Mexican government has reported that the quake did not knock out roads in Chiapas, Oaxaca and Tabasco, meaning repairs could begin quickly.
After an 8.2-magnitude earthquake hit Mexico's Pacific coast overnight, September 7, 2017./ AFP Photo
After an 8.2-magnitude earthquake hit Mexico's Pacific coast overnight, September 7, 2017./ AFP Photo
Furthermore, all airports, ports, highways, telecommunications and railways in the country are operating normally, except in the three aforementioned states.
President Enrique Pena Nieto has traveled to Chiapas to visit some of the most severely hit areas.
Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a condolence message to Pena Nieto on Friday.
(With inputs from Xinhua)
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