Two people die in quake felt from LA to Mexico

A POWERFUL earthquake swayed buildings from Los Angeles to Tijuana, killing two people in Mexico, blacking out cities and forcing the evacuation of hospitals and nursing homes.

One California city closed off its downtown due to unstable buildings.

The 7.2-magnitude quake, centred just south of the US border near Mexicali, was one of the strongest earthquakes to hit the region in decades.

“It sounds like it’s felt by at least 20 million people,” USGS seismologist Lucy Jones said. “Most of Southern California felt this earthquake.”

Sunday afternoon’s earthquake hit hardest in Mexicali, a bustling commerce centre along Mexico’s border with California, where authorities said the quake was followed by many smaller aftershocks, including five with magnitudes between 5.0 and 5.4.

“It has not stopped trembling in Mexicali,” said Baja California state civil protection director Alfredo Escobedo.

Escobedo said one man was killed when his home collapsed just outside of Mexicali and another died when he ran into the street in panic and was struck by a car. At least 100 people were injured. Power was out in virtually the entire city.