Dozens killed in Mexican earthquake

AT least 58 people died when the most powerful earthquake to hit Mexico in over a century tore through buildings, forced mass evacuations and triggered alerts as far away as Southeast Asia.

Measuring 8.1 on the Richter scale, it was stronger than a devastating quake in 1985 that flattened swathes of Mexico City and killed thousands.

This time damage to the city was limited as the quake was deeper and further away. Airport windows were shattered and power cuts hit more than a million people.

The southern town of Juchitan was worst affected. Shocked residents stepped through the rubble of dozens of buildings including houses, the town hall, a VW dealership and a hotel.

The quake also shook Guatemala and El Salvador on Thursday night. The US Geological Survey said the epicentre was in the Pacific, 54 miles off Mexico’s southern coast. Thousands were evacuated when the quake sparked tsunami warnings.