A powerful earthquake rattled buildings and power lines in southern and central Mexico on Tuesday at 11:29 a.m. ET, killing at least two people, according to multiple reports.
The U.S. Geologic Survey said the quake had a magnitude of 7.4 and was centered along the Pacific coast of Oaxaca state.
The quake struck along Mexico’s southern Pacific coast at a depth of 16 miles. The epicenter was 7 miles south-southwest of Santa Maria Zapotitlan. Tremors were felt in Guatemala and throughout south and central Mexico.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) wrote in a news release right after the quake struck that “based on the preliminary earthquake parameters, hazardous tsunami waves are possible for coasts located within 1,000 km of the earthquake epicenter.”
The regions with a tsunami threat forecast are the coastal areas of Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, the release stated.
“Government agencies responsible for threatened coastal areas should take action to inform and instruct any coastal populations at risk in accordance with their own evaluation, procedures, and the level of threat,” NOAA stated. “Persons located in threatened coastal areas should stay alert for information and follow instructions from national and local authorities.”
A video posted on Twitter by a local resident shows buildings and power lines swaying. Thousands of people reportedly fled their houses into the streets after city alarms alerted residents minutes before the tremors hit.
In another video, a street can be seen wobbling the moment the massive quake hits the region.
“One of our main fears during earthquakes in Mexico City are the power lines exploding—fortunately these didn’t fall down but they surely looked like they might,” one resident wrote on Twitter.
Helicopters flew over downtown Mexico City and police patrols sounded their sirens.
Power was knocked out in some areas, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.