(Bloomberg) -- Mexico was hit by its strongest earthquake in more than a century, shaking buildings in the capital and killing at least 26 people in southern states. The tremor brought memories of a 1985 earthquake in Mexico City that killed thousands.
The quake hit offshore near Chiapas state at a depth of 69.7 kilometers (43.3 miles), according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Mexico's National Seismological Service said the temblor, which struck at 11:49 p.m. local time, reached 8.2 magnitude. Mexico City's mayor said the capital seemed to have withstood the quake well, although classes will be suspended Friday in order to review school structures. Mexico City is more than 500 miles from the capital of Chiapas.
If the magnitude is confirmed, it will be stronger than an 8.0-magnitude earthquake in 1985 that flattened hundreds of buildings in the capital and left more than 9,000 dead. President Enrique Pena Nieto warned of aftershocks as strong as magnitude 7 and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center sent an alert for the whole Pacific coast of Mexico for waves as high as three meters.
While there were no initial reports of major damages in Mexico City this time, the death toll jumped to at least 26 people in southern states. At least 20 people died in Oaxaca state and home collapsed, Governor Alejandro Murat said by phone. While Pena Nieto said there were two other fatalities in Tabasco state.
Chiapas Governor Manuel Velasco said hospitals, roads and bridges were damaged and four people died in his state. while TV Azteca showed images of small buildings that collapsed in nearby Oaxaca state. Mexico is the second-largest economy in Latin America, home to cement producer Cemex SAB, tortilla maker Gruma SAB and the state oil company Petroleos Mexicanos. Pemex said there were no reports of damage to its Salina Cruz refinery in Oaxaca, the largest in Mexico. Mexico is the world's largest consumer of Coca-Cola per capita.
The peso erased gains and fell as much as 0.3 percent in early morning trading. It was down 0.1 percent to 17.6885 per dollar in Asia. Spain's Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA, which operates Mexico's biggest bank, fell as much as 1 percent in Madrid before reversing losses.
Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reported that possible hazardous tsunami waves were possible along some coasts of Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Honduras and Ecuador.
Mexico's TV Azteca said there were still no reports of damage in the capital but the extent of the impact was too early to judge.
To contact the reporters on this story: Carlos Manuel Rodriguez in Mexico City at carlosmr@bloomberg.net, Cyntia Barrera Diaz in Mexico City at cbarrerad@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Daniel Cancel at dcancel@bloomberg.net, Andres R. Martinez, Walter Brandimarte
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