Earthquake hits Mexico, aftershocks felt in US

At least two people have died after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck north-western Mexico on Sunday. One man was killed when his home collapsed on him, while the other victim was reportedly hit by a car after fleeing a building.

Reuters

Both people were killed in the city of Mexicali, which is located some 60 kilometres from the tremor’s epicentre. About 100 people have been injured, according to Mexico’s director of civil protection Alfredo Escobedo.

The quake struck at about 3.40pm local time and caused serious damage to infrastructure in Mexicali, the capital of Baja California state and home to 900,000 people. Authorities there have declared a state of emergency.

“This is a large quake with the potential of causing damage because it is not far from a population centre,” said Carlos Valdez, director of the National Seismological Service.

US and Mexican seismologists said the quake had a depth of just 10 kilometres.

The tremor, which struck near the US border, was forceful enough to move buildings in Los Angeles and San Diego in southern California. It was also felt in Phoenix, Arizona and Las Vegas. Seismologists have warned recently that California is in danger of being hit by a major earthquake.