The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the quake occurred at 10:29 a.m. on the Pacific coast. The epicenter was located 7.4 miles (12 kilometers) to the Southwest of Santa María Zapotitlán, in the state of Oaxaca. It was also felt in Guatemala and throughout central and southern Mexico.
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The seismic warning systems were activated at 10:29 am Tuesday, early enough for people to leave the buildings. Some areas were without electricity.
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Helicopters flew over downtown Mexico City and patrols blew their sirens.
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EARTHQUAKE Magnitude 7.5 Loc 23 km SOUTH OF CRUCECITA, OAX 06/23/20 10:29:02 Lat 15.57 Lon -96.09 Pf 5 km pic.twitter.com/8uuY2um91w
– National Seismologist (@SismologicoMX) June 23, 2020
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Groups of people were still wandering near streets and sidewalks in some neighborhoods of the capital about an hour after the earthquake. Many did not wear face masks despite calls from local authorities to wear them to stop the spread of coronavirus.
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Inside a military barracks in Mexico City converted into a hospital to serve patients with covid-19, medical personnel wore protective gear while trying to calm anxious patients. Unable to evacuate the isolation areas, patients crowded under a large beam in the women’s ward while a nurse tried to calm a patient who had a panic attack.
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According to part of the National Seismological Service, until 10:30 pm on Tuesday, just 12 hours after the earthquake occurred, 1,269 aftershocks had already been registered, the largest of a magnitude of 5.5.
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Six deaths and damages in a refinery in Oaxaca
Alejandro Murat, the governor of the southern state of Oaxaca, the most affected by the earthquake, confirmed to Mexican television that as of 8:00 pm, six deaths had been reported: one woman and five men.
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Murat said that the landslides registered on several roads have already been cleaned and communication has been restored, in addition to minor damage to 500 houses and four schools, as reported by EFE.
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The Ministry of Culture of Mexico and the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) reported damage to 55 buildings of cultural heritage in the state of Oaxaca, 40 with minor damages, 11 with moderate damage and four with severe damage.
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Minor damage in Mexico City
Claudia Sheinbaum, the head of the Government of Mexico City, ruled out fatalities, collapse of buildings or serious damage to hospitals, with only two people injured.
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Sheinbeum also indicated that there are at least 36 buildings in the city that have suffered damage, although he assured that they are minor.
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But north of the capital 40 families evacuated a building in the Lindavista-Vallejo Housing Unit It was damaged since before the 2017 earthquake.
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“What we do not want is that they take us out so fast because our things are at risk, apart from there are also older adults who are there, it is not so easy that they can move to get their things,” said Patricia Monroy, one of the neighbors to the agency Efe.
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In addition, the Ministry of Culture reported that although the restoration work on the Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico City has not yet been completed after the damage it suffered during the earthquakes of 2017, with the earthquake on Tuesday, it had new damage.
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In the progress of the revision of the buildings of patrimonial value, the Ministry of Culture reported that in the Metropolitan Cathedral: “plaster detachment is reported that corresponds to the flattening in the west processional walker, access area to Los Angeles Chapel and access to the Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows. There are no additional damages to the structure, bell towers or other elements that are already being worked on after the earthquakes of 2017 ”.
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