New earthquake rattles Mexico

A magnitude-5.4 earthquake shook southern Mexico today, causing no reported damage but swaying tall buildings in the capital of Mexico City, about 230 miles away.

The US Geological Survey said the quake’s epicentre was about six miles off Mexico’s Pacific coast near the town of Pinotepa Nacional, southern Oaxaca state, at 5am local time.

Mexico City mayor Marcelo Ebrard said via Twitter that everything was operating normally in the metropolis of more than 21 million people.

Mexico has been hit by several quakes in the last three weeks, rattling the nerves of weary residents.

Three tectonic plates come together off Mexico’s Pacific coast, and scientists say the country is hit with hundreds of small-magnitude earthquakes every year.