Magnitude 6.5 quake reported in southern Mexico

Magnitude 6.5 quake hits southern Mexico

MEXICO CITY — A strong 6.5-magnitude earthquake rattled the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca Wednesday, and was felt at least as far away as Mexico City.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was centered in a sparsely populated, mountainous area of Oaxaca near the southern Pacific coast.

“It felt strong, very strong,” said Tomas Herrera Sanchez, a police officer on duty in the town of Santiago Pinotepa Nacional, the closest town to the quake’s center. “There are people who got scared and left their houses,” but there were no immediate reports of damage, he said.

The Oaxaca state civil defense department also said it had not received any immediate reports of injuries or damage.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake hit at 2.22 a.m. local time (0722 GMT, 3:22 a.m. EDT). The quake was centered about 75 miles (120 kilometers) west-southwest of Oaxaca city, the state capital, and 220 miles (355 kilometers) south-southeast of Mexico City.

Mexico’s National Seismological Service gave the magnitude as 6.4, and placed the epicenter closer to the coast, which is known for tourist towns like Puerto Escondido and Puerto Angel located further to the east.

The quake occurred at a depth of 6.2 miles (10 kilometers).