Asia-Pacific
Strong 7.2 quake jolts Baja California, Mexico
(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-04-05 08:41
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 People gather at a parking lot outside their buildings after 6.9 earthquake hit the area in Tijuana, Mexico, Sunday, April 4, 2010. [Agencies] |
TIJUANA, Mexico: A strong 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck in Baja California, Mexico, on Sunday, rocking buildings and panicking residents as far away as Tijuana and Los Angeles but there were no immediate reports of damage.
The major earthquake's preliminary magnitude of 6.9 has been raised though US Geological Survey seismologist Lucy Jones says the new magnitude of the 3:40 p.m. Sunday earthquake is still an estimate.
Some people were reported trapped in elevators, retaining walls had collapsed in some places and electricity was out in several parts of the Mexican state of Baja California, Alfredo Escobedo, the director of emergency services in the state, said.
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A Reuters witness in Tijuana, about 135 miles (200 km) away from the epicenter, said cars in a parking lot outside of a building could be seen jolting with the quake and a computer on her desk shook during the temblor.
"I'm shaking like a leaf ... the pool water was just going everywhere," said Jean Nelson in Indio, California, outside of Palm Springs, about 120 miles (190 km) away from the epicenter.
The quake was also felt about 200 miles (320 km) northwest in Los Angeles, witnesses said.
"Here it was just swinging nicely," said Nathalie Ruiz, a resident of a high-rise building in west Los Angeles. "It was not strong shaking, but it was very scary of course."
The quake struck at 15:40 p.m. Pacific time (2240 GMT) at a depth of 20 miles (32 km).
Multiple aftershocks were reported immediately after the quake including a 5.1 shock centered near the US-Mexico border in Imperial, California.
