2 dead after powerful earthquake hits southern Mexico & Guatemala

By The Associated Press

A magnitude-6.9 earthquake on the Pacific Coast jolted a wide area of southern Mexico and Central America Monday.

At least two people are reported dead and dozens of houses damaged in Guatemala.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake hit at 6:23 a.m. local time on the Pacific Coast two kilometres north-northeast of Puerto Madero, near the Guatemala border. It initially calculated the magnitude at 7.1 but later lowered the figure to 6.9.

Firefighters spokesman Raul Hernandez said at least two people died in their homes from collapsed walls in the Guatemalan town of San Marcos near the Mexico border. Hernandez reported damage in at least 30 homes, as well as landslides and collapsed utility poles.

There were reports of power outages in Guatemala as well.

In the Mexican state of Chiapas, where the quake was centred, panicked people poured into the streets and the Red Cross said it was treating some frightened adults and children.

The quake was felt across a broad swath of southern Mexico and as far away as Mexico City, but officials had no immediate reports of damage.

The quake was centred 60 kilometres below the surface.

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