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8.1-magnitude earthquake hits Mexico

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UPDATE - FRI 9/8 8:27 A.M.
Mexican authorities confirmed 32 people were killed, including two children in the state of Tabasco. READ MORE

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MEXICO CITY (KGTV) -- A massive 8.1-magnitude earthquake struck off Mexico's southern Pacific Coast Thursday night.  Over a dozen people were killed and several more injured, Mexican officials said.

According to data from the United States Geological Survey, the jolt struck at around 9:49 p.m. and was centered about 60 miles southwest of Pijijiapan, a small Mexican town in the state of Chiapas which is located near the border with Guatemala.

The National Weather service issued a Tsunami Threat alert advising that hazardous waves may reach more than 9 feet along some coasts of Mexico.

"Tsunami waves reaching more than 3 meters above the tide level are possible along some coasts of Mexico," the NOAA/NWS said in the alert.

RELATED: Social Media reaction: 8.0 earthquake in Mexico

"Tsunami waves reaching 0.3 to 1 meters above the tide level are possible for some coasts of Cook Islands... Ecuador... French polynesia... Guatemala...and Kiribati," the alert added.

Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto tweeted, "Civil protection protocols are activated, including the National Emergency Committee.”

In an interview with CNN, Paulaina Gomez-Wulschner said she heard an earthquake alarm go off on the radio as she was driving in Mexico City.

"This was a very, very strong earthquake, one of the strongest I've felt, and I was here in 1985 when that earthquake collapsed Mexico City," she told CNN.

She said she parked her car and stood with other people in middle of the street to avoid falling objects.

"It was very scary," she said.

Video from the scene shows buildings rattling a loud rumbling sound last over 20 seconds.

 

Mexican officials announced on Friday morning that at least 15 people were killed, including two children in the state of Tabasco.

The USGS has reported four aftershocks registering above 5.0 in magnitude.

On Sept. 19, 1985, thousands of people were killed when an 8.0 magnitude temblor struck Mexico City.  The powerful quake flattened hundreds of buildings throughout the region, including a major hospital, Hospital Juárez de México, where nearly 300 people were killed. The total number of deceased ranged between 5,000 to 10,000.

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