Huge earthquake SHAKES Mexico as sirens send residents DASHING into the streets
A HUGE preliminary 5.6 magnitude earthquake has struck Mexico as sirens have sent residents dashing into the streets in a desperate effort to get to safety, it has emerged.
The quake was later downgraded to a 5.2 magnitude by the United States Geological Survey.
Local reporter Leyla Santiago tweeted a picture of smartphone alerts being received by residents and those in the area taking to the streets in Mexico City.
It is understood a seismic alarm was triggered.
The earthquake struck in the eastern region of Guerrero.
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There are currently no reports of structural damage.
The coastal state also shook and triggered seismic warnings on Wednesday.
Evacuation alarms sounded after another 5.2 magnitude quake struck.
Guerrero has a population of more than 31,000.
Civilians in the area took to social media to discuss the fears being injured in the capital.
Ana Rosa Quintana wrote: “In Mexico City and earthquake alarms started sounded.
“Rushed out of hotel room in my pyjamas and two grown men pushed me to pass me on the stairs.”
Erin Coughlan de Perez added: “Incredibly fast evacuation drill for earthquakes in Mexico City - under one minute.”
People gather on the streets after earthquake in Oaxaca, Mexico
Blogger MexicoTrippa declared: “People pouring out onto the streets to a safe area, looking up at the buildings and waiting anxiously for the worst.”
The blog also described tremors in the region as seemingly a “way of life” for those in the region recently.
Seismic activity is common in the North American country due to its positioning on top of the devastating Ring of Fire – a series of fragile fault lines that stretch from New Zealand, all around the east coast of Asia, over to Canada and the USA then all the way down to the southern tip of South America.
Earthquake sirens going off on Mexico City. pic.twitter.com/ZnHywvzUzW
— Leyla Santiago (@leylasantiago) May 21, 2018
The Ring of Fire region is a chain of volcanoes and intense earthquake tremor zones along the rim of the Pacific Basin.
The vast majority of the world’s earthquakes take place in the Ring of Fire and the zone holds more than 450 volcanoes and 75 per cent of the world’s active fiery mountains.
The Ring of Fire extends a 40,000km-long horseshoe stretch of the Pacific Ocean.
