Powerful earthquake strikes Mexico

At least 19 people were killed when a strong earthquake shook west-central Mexico sending panicked residents spilling into the streets of major cities and knocking out power to many areas, officials said today.

The first estimate from Mexico’s national seismological service put the quake’s magnitude at 7.6 on the Richter Scale. The agency said it struck at 8.07pm local time yesterday (2.07am Irish time today) in Colima, a small state which includes the port city of Manzanillo, 300 miles west of Mexico City.