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Strong quake breaks bridge in Mexico

Mexico City, a megalopolis of 20 million people, has escaped major damage and injuries following a 6.4-magnitude earthquake.

People wait in a street after a strong earthquake in Mexico City
A 6.4-magnitude earthquake has rattled Mexico, sending people fleeing into the capital's streets. (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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A strong 6.4-magnitude earthquake has rattled Mexico, causing a bridge to collapse in the south and sending people fleeing into the capital's streets as buildings swayed.

Mexico City, a megalopolis of 20 million people, escaped major damage and injuries as residents evacuated homes and offices in Thursday's quake.

Hundreds of tourists calmly left their hotels in the Pacific resort of Acapulco and returned after a few minutes.

But a large chunk of a road's bridge collapsed in Tecpan de Galeana, near the epicentre of the earthquake in southern Guerrero state, according to a picture posted by the state's public safety agency on Twitter.

Guerrero state authorities are reviewing the region's infrastructure for any damage.

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None was reported in the state capital, Chilpancingo.

The US Geological Survey said the quake was centred 15km north of Tecpan de Galeana and 277km southwest of Mexico City.

The earthquake had a depth of 23km.

The USGS initially measured it at a magnitude of 6.8 before revising it down.

As the earth shook, Finance Minister Luis Videgaray was delivering a speech and stopped mid sentence.

"If it's alright with you, we will take a break because it is shaking," Videgaray calmly told the audience.

Mexico's National Seismology Service reported at least two aftershocks of 5.1 and 4.9 magnitude.

The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no widespread threat of destructive waves.

The temblor came after a powerful 7.2-magnitude earthquake shook the capital and the Pacific resort of Acapulco on April 18, breaking some windows and walls but sparing the country from any major damage or injuries.

In 1985, thousands of people were killed in Mexico City when buildings collapsed after an 8.1-magnitude temblor struck the Pacific coast.


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