7.2 magnitude earthquake hits America / Mexico border

A 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit the Mexico/U.S. border on Sunday, local time 3.40 pm shook three states and caused at least two deaths.

Damage to local convenience store in Mexicali, Mexico - Image By: AP, Jorge Rivera
Damage to local convenience store in Mexicali, Mexico - Image By: AP, Jorge Rivera

The three states that took the full force of the quakes were Los Angeles to Phoenix to Tijuana.

The majority of the damage was in Calexico and Mexicali, which are two cities that was close to the epicentre of the 7.2 magnitude quake.

Emergency services in both countries rushed to the aid of the injured as buildings fell, roads cracked, fires started, water canals cracked, telephones went down and electricity went out.

It has been reported that a man died in Mexico after the building he was in collapsed and another man was hit by a car when he ran on the road during the quake.

In Calexico, local news agencies are reporting that the downtown area was shut of by police. The office building in the area were made in the 1930s and 40s and were not refurbished for earthquakes which is why much of the buildings have serious damage

Security guards and police were seen tonight guarding buildings to prevent looting that has been seen after earthquakes that hit Haiti and Chile. There has also been reports that bricks had fallen from some buildings and glasses were shattered.

Experts are warning residents that aftershocks were expected but the size is predicted to be 5.5 magnitude or less. People were on the streets this morning as residence in all three cities were to frightened to go into their homes.

Witnesses say that a large rumble was heard before the buildings started to sway. Experts say that at least 20 million people in the U.S and Mexico felt the earthquake which was just 10km to the surface of the ground.

Experts are predicting that the fault in which the earthquake occurred was the Laguna Salada fault which last saw any considerable activity in 1892 when a 7.2 magnitude earthquake occurred.

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