Magnitude 7.6 Earthquake in Mexico... Houses Damaged and Tsunami Warning Issued

76 Aftershocks in 2 Hours
Civilians Faint Amid Evacuation Chaos... Suspected Fatalities
"Checking for Damage Among Local Korean Residents"

On the 19th (local time), when a strong earthquake occurred off the western coast of Mexico, residents in the Polanco downtown area of Mexico City evacuated outside buildings. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Juri] A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck near Par?cuaro de Morelos in Michoac?n state, western Mexico, at 1:05 PM local time on the 19th, according to reports from the Associated Press and others.

According to the reports, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) measured the epicenter at 18.367 degrees north latitude and 103.252 degrees west longitude. This location is on the Pacific coast, approximately 475 km west of Mexico City. The focal depth was observed at 15.1 km.

About 1 hour and 25 minutes later, at around 2:30 PM, another earthquake of magnitude 5.3 (USGS standard) occurred, and a total of 76 aftershocks continued over approximately 2 hours.

On the 19th (local time), when a strong earthquake occurred off the western coast of Mexico, medical staff in the Polanco downtown area of Mexico City provided emergency treatment to residents startled by the shaking of buildings. Photo by Yonhap News

Local government authorities and various municipalities issued warnings and advised residents to move to safe locations. As a result, citizens inside buildings evacuated outdoors. Some citizens fainted and received emergency treatment on the streets.

President Andr?s Manuel L?pez Obrador tweeted, "So far, we have received reports of one death in Manzanillo, Colima state," adding, "It appears the victim was struck when a shopping center fence suddenly collapsed."

In Mexico City, one person was trapped under a collapsed wall and was transported to a hospital.

In Michoac?n state, part of a hospital building in the Maruata area collapsed, and the interior and exterior walls of the Coalcom?n temple were severely damaged.

Reports of cracks in building exterior walls and damage to residential structures came from other areas as well. Near Interlomas in Mexico City, a pedestrian overpass was reported to have cracks.

Public transportation such as subways and buses was temporarily suspended.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center stated, "Tsunamis can occur along coastlines within 300 km of the epicenter," and predicted sea level fluctuations of up to 82 cm around the earthquake area.

The center also forecasted tsunami waves up to 30 cm high along the coasts of neighboring countries including Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, and Peru.

Meanwhile, no damage to the Korean community has been confirmed so far. The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Mexico is checking for any damage through emergency contact networks.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.