An earthquake of magnitude 8.0 has struck the coast of southern Mexico.
The quake was felt in Mexico City, causing buildings to shake and residents to run into the streets.
A tsunami warning has been issued for Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
The United States Geological Survey said that the quake had a magnitude of 8.0 and that its epicentre was about 100km south-west of the town, Pijijiapan.
The earthquake has a depth of 35km.
Tsunami warning issued for several central American countries after earthquake struck off Mexico's coast https://t.co/1GE4Nm7Tnr pic.twitter.com/8fOxZUylmX
— Al Jazeera Breaking News (@AJENews) September 8, 2017
The United States Tsunami Warning System has said the threat is still elevated for Hawaii and other Pacific islands.
Speaking to CNN this morning, geophysicist Jana Pursely said that these kinds of “shallow” earthquakes have the potential to be very dangerous.
She also said the shaking at the coast of Chiapas is expected to be “severe.”
Mexican president Enrique Pena Nieto has tweeted that: “Civil protection protocols are activated, including the National Emergency Committee in the earthquake of 8.0 density.”
Se encuentran activos los protocolos de Protección Civil, incluyendo el Comité Nacional de Emergencias, ante sismo de 8.0 de intensidad.
— Enrique Peña Nieto (@EPN) September 8, 2017
