7.4 earthquake shakes Mexico, hundreds of homes damaged

Officials in Mexico are assessing damage after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake left hundreds of homes in ruins and shook residents hundreds of miles away. The earthquake occurred mid-day on Tuesday and its epicenter was about 15 miles (25 km) east of Ometepec, Guerrero. Governor Angel Aguirre told reporters that at least 500 homes in the coastal state were damaged and 11 people were injured. Of the injured, 9 were residents in Oaxaca state, which borders Guerrero, and 2 were of Mexico City, about 200 miles from the epicenter of the earthquake.

The United States Geological Survey reported that the depth of the quake was about 12.4 miles (20km). In a statement, the Guerrero state government reported that at least 800 houses collapsed in the town of Igualapa, and unfortunately, the number could increase as assessments continue on Wednesday. Earthquakes are a terrifying experience for the more than 20 million residents who live in metropolis, where roughly 10,000 people died after a massive quake in 1985. The city was built on volcanic ash and clay, and is susceptible to temblors.