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Earthquake in Mexico Terrifies, But Causes No Injuries or Damage

Travelers Today   By Maxine Wally

Updated: Mar 26, 2013 04:15 PM EDT

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Scenic Puerto Angel, Oaxaca, pictured here was near the location of a 5.5-magnitude earthquake Tuesday.(Photo : Wikicommons)

An earthquake hit Oaxaca and other sections of Southern Mexico Tuesday morning, sending the city into a momentary frenzy.

The 5.5-magnitude shake first came at 7:04 a.m., (9:04 a.m. EST), then struck again eight minutes later 11 miles southwest of the nearby town Santiago Pinotepa Nacional, clocking in at a magnitude of 5.1.

At first, Mexico Seismology Service stated the quake's magnitude to be 5.9, according to CBS News.

Gabino Cue, governor of Oaxaca, said no reports of injuries sustained have been reported thus far, tweeting there has been "no damage." Local news services added no reports of damage were reported close to Pinotepa Nacional.

Mario Cruz, a firefighters' spokesperson, agreed, telling CBS News, "so far we have received no reports of damage and we're monitoring nationwide."

Still, citizens were distressed by the rattling event. Buildings swayed, and thousands ran out of buildings on to the streets as soon as they heard the quake alarms.

The earthquake centered about 220 miles southeast of Mexico City. Oaxaca is located about 300 miles away from the capital of Mexico.

The country's soft soil and orientation along the west coast of Central America makes it particularly prone to earthquakes: the Cocos Plate that slopes underneath the North American plate produces quite the active seismic zone. Since the 1900s, 84 earthquakes with magnitudes greater than 7.0 have shaken this area. The malleable, sedimentary clay in Mexican ground creates heightened seismic waves, which can be especially problematic for building foundations.

The night before, Guatemala experienced a 6.2 magnitude earthquake, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Curiously enough, most did not feel the tremble, probably due to the depth of the earthquake. Oaxaca's shake, on the other hand, registered at the shallow depth of 4.7 miles, which rendered it much more felt on the ground.