A strong, long 7.9 earthquake with an epicenter in Guerrero state shook central southern Mexico on Tuesday, swaying buildings in Mexico City and sending frightened workers and residents into the streets.

The U.S. Geological Survey set the intensity at 7.9 on the Richter scale. Mexico’s National Seismological Survey said the temblor had an epicenter southwest of Ometepec.

It was six miles (10 kilometres) underground.

The technical details:

Magnitude 7.6 – OAXACA, MEXICO

2012 March 20 18:02:48 UTC

Earthquake Details

  • This event has been reviewed by a seismologist.
Magnitude 7.6
Date-Time
  • Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at 18:02:48 UTC
  • Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at 12:02:48 PM at epicenter
Location 16.662°N, 98.188°W
Depth 17.5 km (10.9 miles)
Region OAXACA, MEXICO
Distances
  • 25 km (15 miles) E (95°) from Ometepec, Guerrero, Mexico
  • 42 km (26 miles) NNW (335°) from Pinotepa Nacional, Oaxaca, Mexico
  • 87 km (54 miles) SW (219°) from Tlaxiaco, Oaxaca, Mexico
  • 162 km (101 miles) WSW (255°) from Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico
  • 186 km (115 miles) E (96°) from Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico
Location Uncertainty horizontal +/- 15.8 km (9.8 miles); depth +/- 6.5 km (4.0 miles)
Parameters NST=438, Nph=440, Dmin=312.8 km, Rmss=0.88 sec, Gp= 79°,
M-type=regional moment magnitude (Mw), Version=9
Source
  • Magnitude: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
    Location: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
Event ID usc0008m6h