Jarring Videos Show Destruction Wrought By Quake In Central Mexico

Rescue workers and volunteers search a building that collapsed after an earthquake in downtown Mexico City, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017. A powerful earthquake jolted central Mexico on Tuesday, causing buildings to sway s... Rescue workers and volunteers search a building that collapsed after an earthquake in downtown Mexico City, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017. A powerful earthquake jolted central Mexico on Tuesday, causing buildings to sway sickeningly in the capital on the anniversary of a 1985 quake that did major damage. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) MORE LESS
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A magnitude 7.1 earthquake jolted central Mexico on Tuesday, killing at least 55 people, according to The Associated Press. It came less than two weeks after the country’s southern region suffered another quake that killed at least 90 people.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake was centered near the town of Raboso in Puebla state, located about 76 miles southeast of Mexico City.

Videos taken during the tremor show buildings collapsing into dust in parts of Mexico City and surrounding areas. Thousands fled buildings and poured onto the streets as the quake hit the region.

From homes to businesses, the powerful earthquake also caused panic indoors as buildings shook violently:

The power of the quake could even be felt in the water:

After dust from collapsed buildings began settling, stunned onlookers surveyed the rubble left behind:

Tuesday’s quake occurred on the anniversary of a deadly, 8.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Mexico City in 1985. Much of the capital is built on former lakebed, which means that the soil can amplify the effects of earthquakes centered hundreds of miles away.

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Notable Replies

  1. Long earthquakes cause lots of damage. Looks like this one was right around a minute long.

  2. Avatar for coffae coffae says:

    Second quake in a month in less that two weeks. One a 8.1 and the other 7.1. Prayers for the people. Stay safe and away from fractured buildings.

  3. Avatar for dave48 dave48 says:

    This is bad. It’s a 7.1 near Puebla, which is a major population center. There will be hundreds, if not thousands of deaths. It looks like a lot of buildings collapsed.

  4. Avatar for topcat topcat says:

    That looked terrifying to this Angeleno.

  5. Nightmarish.

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