Day 94 - Project 365

Evidently I wasn't one of the 20 million.

7.2 quake felt by about 20 million

One person is killed in Mexicali, and homes collapse in the border city.
By Marianela Jimenez and Christopher Weber, The Associated Press
Posted: 04/04/2010 11:12:24 PM PDT


The Escomex business school in Mexicali, Mexico, sustained damage in Sunday's earthquake, which was felt as far away as Las Vegas. The major damage happened in Mexico but there were temporary power outages in Southern California. (Jorge Rivera, Twitter via The Associated Press)
TIJUANA, Mexico — One of the strongest earthquakes to hit Southern California in decades shook tens of millions of people in two countries and three states on Sunday, swaying buildings from Los Angeles to Phoenix to Tijuana. At least two people were killed in Mexico.

The 7.2-magnitude quake struck at 3:40 p.m., about 38 miles southeast of the border city of Mexicali, Mexico, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It had a shallow depth of 6 miles. Three aftershocks of magnitudes 5.1, 4.5 and 4.3 followed within the hour and dozens of smaller temblors struck later.

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

Long Beach Fire Department Battalion Chief Frank Hayes said firefighters went into earthquake mode and were checking local hospitals, bridges and other structures for possible damage. So far, no damage had been reported. The fire department's regional urban search and rescue team remained on alert Sunday, he added.

Capt. Frank Reynoso of the Los Angeles County Fire Department said no damage was reported in the county.

The earthquake was felt the hardest in Mexicali, a bustling commerce center along Mexico's border with California.

Mom and Dad were driving over to the house for Easter Dinner when it hit. They got out of the car and said did you feel the earthquake? I was like what earthquake? They said look at the telephone pole swaying. I said umm do you not see the wind blowing? But I guess it was the earthquake...never felt it and never have felt any of the 100 or so aftershocks either.