Mexico City was shaken by an Earthquake that occurred roughly 122 km to the south of the city, at a depth of 53.8 km, according to the United States Geological Survey. The quake, which occurred slightly before 10.20 pm on Saturday 15 June 2013 local time (slightly before 5.20 am on Sunday 16 June, GMT), is not thought to have caused any damage of casualties, though it has been linked to a series of power outages in the city. Large, deep quakes such as this one are often felt over a wide area, but seldom cause any serious damage.
The location of the 15 June 2013 Earthquake. Google Maps.
Southern Mexico is located on the southernmost part of the North American Plate. To the south, along the Middle American Trench, which lies off the southern coast off Mexico, the Cocos Plate is being subducted under the North American Plate, passing under southern Mexico as it sinks into the Earth. This is not a smooth process, and the plates frequently stick together then break apart as the pressure builds up, causing Earthquakes on the process.
See also Eruption on Mount Popocatépetl, Magnitude 6.3 Earthquake off the coast of Baja California, Earthquake in the Gulf of California, Earthquake in the Gulf of California and Oaxaca region of Mexico struck by second major Earthquake in two weeks.
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