Southern Mexico rattled by magnitude-6.4 earthquake, but no damage or injuries reported

OAXACA, Mexico – Southern Mexico was rattled by a magnitude-6.4 quake Thursday, but there were no reports of damage or injuries.

The temblor was felt in the southern states of Oaxaca, Chiapas, and Tabasco and it prompted some tourists and residents to rush out of buildings in the colonial city of Oaxaca. Some state government offices were evacuated, including the Department of Public Safety.

“I thought it was never going to stop,” said a shaken Vilma Santiago, who was on the second floor of a building when the quake hit. She had come to the city for information from the Consumer Protection Agency.

“It was strong. You could feel the stairs moving, and I didn’t even get the information I came for,” she said.

The U.S. Geological Survey initially reported a magnitude of 6.6 for the quake, but later modified the calculation to 6.4. The temblor struck just before 2 p.m. in an area of Chiapas near the Guatemalan border.

Federal Civil Defence director Ricardo de la Cruz told local media some people suffered panic attacks, but there were no reports of significant damage or injuries.

The Tabasco and Chiapas civil defence agencies also reported no serious damage.

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This story has been corrected to show that Ricardo de la Cruz is a federal official rather than a state official.