Strong quake shakes tall buildings in Mexico City

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By ABC30

Friday, May 22, 2009

MEXICO CITY (AP) The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake had a magnitude of 5.7 and was centered 90 miles (140 kilometers) southeast of the capital in Puebla. The Mexican seismological service measured it at 5.9.

Mexico City office worker Mariana Rodriguez, 20, was in a 19th-floor bathroom when she felt her building sway.

"I saw in the mirror that everything was moving," she said. "The soap even fell down. We were really nervous, but they didn't let us leave the building."

But many did run outside across the metropolis of 20 million, and waited several minutes before returning indoors. The capital has lived through powerful earthquakes, including one in 1985 that killed as many as 10,000 people.

Others immediately got on Facebook and Twitter to tell friends and family they were OK. Some said cell their phone service was knocked out.

Friday's earthquake was stronger and closer to the capital than one that hit last month. But Bruce Tresgrave of the U.S. Geological Survey said it was 35 miles (56 kilometers) below ground -- deeper than normal -- and thus unlikely to cause major damage.

Mexican TV network Televisa said there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage in Mexico City or at its epicenter in Puebla.