August 21, 2013 Earthquake: San Marcos, Acapulco, Mexico

A moderately strong earthquake struck near Mexico's Pacific coast resort of Acapulco on Wednesday, causing cracks in some buildings and knocking bricks and plaster off other structures. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake at 7:38 a.m. had a magnitude of 6.2. It was centred near the Pacific coast and about 100 kilometres east of Acapulco. No significant injuries were reported, but a chunk of ornamental plaster work fell off the facade of one hotel on Acapulco's once-glamorous main boulevard. Cracks were found in the walls of a university in Acapulco and a concrete entrance gate at a local military base collapsed, said Victor Torres Ruiz, the spokesman for the state government of Guerrero, where Acapulco is located. An apartment block also suffered structural damage, according to Constantino Gonzalez Vargas, head of the state civil defence office... A second, smaller quake followed 24 minutes later. The USGS calculated the magnitude of the aftershock at 5.3. Traffic lights went out in the city, causing traffic jams, and fears of more possible aftershocks prompted some schools in Acapulco to send children home for the day. Buildings swayed in Mexico City, 280 kilometres to the north, and some people evacuated office buildings as an earthquake alarm sounded. On the city's main boulevard, one man injured his leg as he rushed out of an office building. Mexico City Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera said there were no reports of damage or serious injuries. Mexico City is vulnerable even to distant earthquakes because much of it sits atop the muddy sediments of drained lake beds that quiver as quake waves hit. (reference #10714)

There were also reports of rocks falling on the highway blocking access to Puerto Marques. Classes in most Acapulco schools were cancelled and at least one person was injured. (reference #10715)

Slight damage, landslides and power outages in the Acapulco area. One person slightly injured at Mexico. Felt (VIII) at San Marcos; (VII) at Acapulco; (V) at Puebla; (IV) at Ayutla, Cuernavaca, Vista Hermosa and Zacamulpa; (III) at Naucalpan, Temixco and Toluca. Felt widely in central and southern Mexico. (reference #13456)