At 9:22 local time last night, an earthquake measuring 8.1 on the Richter Scale struck southern Mexico and northern Guatemala. At least 30 people have been killed and many structures leveled. The quake was felt as far north as Mexico City where skyscrapers swayed. The quake was centered off Mexico’s southern coast. The epicenter was in the Pacific Ocean, some 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) southeast of the capital and 74 miles (120 kilometers) from the Pacific coast. 23 people have been killed in the state of Oaxaca, 2 in Chiapas and one in Tabasco.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) Pager system issued a red alert that stated, "High casualties and extensive damage are probable and the disaster is likely widespread. Past red alerts have required a national or international response." This system measures the probability of loss after earthquakes.
A tsunami was confirmed in Mexico, with one wave coming in at 3 feet according to the National Weather Service’s Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. It said tsunami waves taller than 10 feet could strike the Mexican coast, while 3-foot waves could reach as far away as New Zealand. There have been no further tsunami waves recorded so far after the first one.
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