Earthquake In Mexico

A strong earthquake centered in the southern state of Oaxaca shook Mexico early Wednesday, the US and Mexican earthquake monitors reported.

The quake, which struck at 2:22 am (0722 GMT), lasted around half a minute and was powerful enough to shake buildings in Mexico City, AFP correspondents reported.

Both Mexico's Seismological Institute and the US Geological Survey said the quake measured 6.5 on the moment magnitude scale, though the USGS later revised down the quake's strength to magnitude 6.2.

Mexican authorities said they had no immediate reports of casualties or major damages.

The epicenter was located 355 kilometers (220 miles) south-southeast of Mexico City, or 120 kilometers (75 miles) west-southwest of Oaxaca city, according to the USGS, which monitors quakes worldwide.

The quake had a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), the USGS said.

One radio station described scenes of panic in Mexico City, where memories of the magnitude 8.1 quake of September 19, 1985 that killed between 10,000 and 30,000 people remain fresh.