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At Least 5 Dead, Many Trapped After Powerful Quake Rocks Mexico City

Update (4:05 pm ET): The BBC is reporting that several deaths have already been reported as a result of the quake. Reuters says at least five have been killed. The AP quoted Mexico City's mayor as saying that there are reports of peole still trapped in collapsed buildings.

President Donald Trump has taken time out of his day of meetings at the UN to tweet his support: "God bless Mexico City. We are with you and we will be there for you."

Meanwhile, there are reports that tremors were felt as far away as Guadalajara, more than 300 miles away...

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On the anniversary of a massive 1985 earthquake that killed at least 5,000 people, Mexico City has been shaken by another powerful earthquake, the second the shake the city in the past two weeks. The 7.1 magnitude quake shook buildings in the capital city, sending thousands rushing into the streets, according to Reuters.

The earthquake damaged hundreds of buildings in the city, according to initial reports. Ironically, the quake hit only hours after many people participated in earthquake drills around the nation - drills specifically timed to mark the anniversary of the 1985 earthquake.

The epicenter of the quake was 5 miles (8 km) southeast of Atencingo in the central state of Puebla at a depth of 32 miles (51 km), Reuters reported, citing the US Geological Survey.

A powerful 8.1 quake hit Mexico earlier this month, killing at least 98 people.

Accordin to the Associated Press, much of Mexico City is built on former lakebed, and the soft soil can amplify earthquakes even hundreds of miles away. 

The Mayor of Mexico City announced on Twitter that he had activated an earthquake-related emergency committee to organize and supervise the city's response to the quake.

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto announced that he is returning to Mexico City immediately, and would convene an emergency council to supervise the federal government's role in the disaster response. He is presently on a flight headed for Oaxaca.

At least one flight from Dallas to Mexico City was being diverted to Monterrey as the Mexico City airport ceased operations to conduct a thorough review...

The breaking news headlines are still rolling in...

*MEXICO CITY QUAKE DAMAGED HUNDREDS OF BUILDINGS*MEXICO CITY AIRPORT SUSPENDS OPS UNTIL INFRA REVIEW IS DONE*MEXICO CITY AIRPORT SAYS IT'S INSPECTING RUNWAYS AFTER QUAKE*MEXICO CITY AIRPORT SAYS IT'S INSPECTING TERMINALS FOR DAMAGE*MEXICAN BOLSA CEO: STILL DECIDING WHETHER TO RESUME OPS TODAY*MEXICO CITY QUAKE DAMAGES DOZENS BUILDINGS IN FIN. DISTRICT*MEXICO CITY AIRPORT SAYS IT'S INSPECTING RUNWAYS AFTER QUAKE*MEXICO CITY POLICE CLOSE OFF STREETS IN ZONA ROSA AREA*NO QUAKE DAMAGES REPORTED AT THE MOMENT:MEXICO CIVIL PROTECTION*7.1 MAG. EARTHQUAKE PUEBLA MEXICO :EMSC*7.1 MAG. EARTHQUAKE CENTRAL MEXICO :GFZ*MEXICO CITY QUAKE CAUSES POWER OUTAGE IN FINANCIAL DISTRICT*MEXICO CITY BUILDINGS SHAKE IN EARTHQUAKE*MEXICO BUILDINGS ROCK IN APPARENT QUAKE*SMOKE SEEN COMING UP FROM SOME BUILDINGS IN MEXICO CITY*MEXICO STOCKS FALL NEAR SESSIONS LOWS AFTER QUAKE*SOME BUILDINGS IN ROMA NEIGHBORHOOD IN MEXICO CITY COLLAPSED

Here's a map showing where the quake occurred:

Images of collapsed buildings populated twitter as residents documented the damage...

 

Roads around terminals at the Mexico City airport were damaged...

 

Pictures of the damage are just starting to emerge on twitter:

Mexican stocks fell to the lows of the day after the quake, while the dollar surged against the peso.

Video showing the aftermath of a building collapse has emerged...

Here's a clip of an office building shaking...

...in another video, plumes of smoke can be seen rising from buildings.

Another video shows Mexico City's National Employment Service building shaking...

Footage from tourist attraction Xochimilco showed tourists having a harrowing time as the quake caused choppy waters - "this is a bad idea to be one this boat!" one tourist can be heard shouting.

And here is footage of a factory explosion caught on camera.

Source
Disaster
Environment
Mexico City