A powerful magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck in the Sea of Cortez off Mexico's Baja California today, rattling towns on both sides of the narrow sea but there were were no reports of major damage or injuries.
The quake shook buildings in the tourist resort of La Paz on the Baja California peninsula, famous for its whale watching, as well as along the coast of the state of Sinaloa.
"It was horrible, very strong. We were in the town hall and the roof started creaking so we all ran out," said Mayola Gutierrez, an assistant to the mayor of Ahome in Sinaloa, who said minor damage was done to the facade of the building.
Sinaloa emergency officials said they had no reports of damage but were investigating reports that some buildings had been evacuated.
The quake was centered in the south of the Sea of Cortez, also known as the Gulf of California, 105km south of Los Mochis in Sinaloa on the mainland. It was very shallow, just 10km below the seabed.
The Pacific Tsunami center said the quake had not triggered a tsunami but could cause local waves.
Reuters