Major earthquake hits Mexico, 226 killed

International Desk: A powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake has killed at least 226 people in central Mexico, according to officials.

The tremor on Tuesday struck eight kilometres southeast of Atencingo in the central state of Puebla, some 120km from the capital, Mexico City, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.

Scores of buildings collapsed into mounds of rubble or were severely damaged in densely populated parts of Mexico City and nearby states.

"A total of 226 people have sadly lost their lives," the director of the government's civil protection service, Luis Felipe Puente, told the Televisa television network.

The capital's international airport suspended operations and was checking facilities for any damage.

Clouds of dust rose from fallen pieces of facades in Mexico City, and local TV footage and social media purportedly showed some buildings with severe damage.

Source: Agencies




risingbd/Sept 20, 2017/Mukul