Strong Mexico quake shakes L.A., San Diego

Parts of Arizona also feel tremor that hit Baja California

BREAKING NEWS

NBC News and news services
updated 25 minutes ago

TIJUANA - A strong 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck in Baja California, Mexico, on Sunday, rocking buildings and panicking residents as far away as Tijuana, Los Angeles and even Phoenix, Ariz.

Multiple aftershocks followed but officials had no immediate reports of injuries or significant damage.

The quake shook high-rises in downtown Los Angeles and San Diego and was felt across Southern California and Arizona.

In El Centro, a California town near the border and just 25 miles from the epicenter, most residents lost power and phone service, the Fire Department told NBC News.

Crews were responding to numerous reports of gas leaks and some structural damage to older buildings downtown was reported.

In Los Angeles, the city fire department went on earthquake status and some stalled elevators were reported.

Jean Nelson of Indio, outside Palm Springs, said she was "shaking like a leaf ... the pool water was just going everywhere."

In the Phoenix area, Jacqueline Land said her king-sized bed in her second-floor apartment felt like a boat gently swaying on the ocean.

"I thought to myself, that cant be an earthquake, I'm in Arizona," the Northern California native said. "And I thought, oh my God I feel like I'm 9 years old."

A police dispatcher in Yuma, Ariz., said the quake was very strong there, but no damage was reported.

Mike Wong, who works at a journalism school in downtown Phoenix, said he was in his second-floor office getting some work done Sunday when he heard sounds and felt the building start to sway.

"I heard some cracking sounds, like Rice Crispies," he said. "I didn't think much of it, but I kept hearing it, and then I started feeling a shake. I thought, 'You know what? I think that might be an earthquake.'"

Wong said the swaying lasted for "just a few seconds," and he didn't notice any damage.

The quake was felt for about 40 seconds in Tijuana, Mexico, causing buildings to sway and knocking out power in parts of the city. Families celebrating Easter ran out of the homes, with children screaming and crying.

Baja California state Civil Protection Director Alfredo Escobedo said there were no immediate reports of injuries or major damage. But he said the assessment was ongoing.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported the quake occurred at 3:40 p.m. PT and was located 16 miles south-southwest of Guadalupe Victoria, at a depth of 20 miles. The area was hit by magnitude 3.0 quakes all week.

The office initially reported the quake as a 6.9 but later changed that to 7.2.
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