Deadly Earthquake In Mexico Also Isolates A Number Of Areas

Illustration (Source: Andrew Buchanan / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - A large earthquake rocked Oaxaca in southern Mexico yesterday. At least five people died in the disaster and several buildings were wrecked.

The earthquake measuring 7.4 magnitude occurred in the early hours of the morning according to the United States Geological Agency. The epicenter was off the Pacific coast about seven miles southwest of Santa Maria Zapotitlan, near the coast of Huatuco.

Apart from causing casualties, the earthquake also damaged infrastructure. According to a Reuters report, the rocks collapsed in the earthquake cut off road access in the affected areas. Because of this, several villages were isolated.

Apart from that, the state-owned oil company, Pemex said that one of its workers fell from the oil refinery building to death. The earthquake also caused a fire at an oil refinery located in Salina Cruz.

The tremors were felt in several states and triggered a sesmic alarm in Mexico City sending residents rushing onto the streets. Mexican President Andres Manual Lopez Obrador said 147 aftershocks occurred hours later.

This massive earthquake is not the first time this has occurred in several years. In September 2017, an 8.1 magnitude earthquake struck the southern coast of the region and killed 60 people.