A massive magnitude 8.1 earthquake struck Mexico just before midnight on Thursday. The quake—widely considered to be among the strongest to ever hit the country—originated deep in the Earth off the southwest coast.
People 1200 miles away, as far away as Austin, Texas, reported feeling tremors from the massive earthquake.
A tsunami warning was issued for the Pacific Coast, including Puerto Vallarta. The warning for the coast of Puerto Vallarta expired shortly before 3 A.M., however some watches and warnings remain in affect for southern Mexico and Central America. The largest tsunami triggered by the earthquake measured 3 meters in the south of the country.
While some people in Puerto Vallarta reported feeling tremors, and some local hotels swaying, there were no reports of damage or injury. Most residence of the city were unaware of the earthquake until being informed by media.
Shaking was strongest closest to the origin in the states of Chiapas and Oaxaca, but monuments and street lamps swayed as far away as the capital, Mexico City, 457 miles to the northwest. The area is predominantly rural and mountainous, so getting precise numbers of fatalities or economic losses will take some time. At least 32 people are confirmed dead, as of this time, but it is extremely likely that the number of fatalities will rise as rescue crews respond to the quake.
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