A powerful earthquake shuddered through Mexico City Tuesday afternoon, hurling rubble into the streets and damaging buildings in and around the city as thousands of people fled for cover.The earthquake hit a 7.1 on the Richter Scale, the U.S. Geological Survey calculated, and its epicenter was just over 76 miles southeast of Mexico City. The impact was intense — one building erupted in flames shortly after the earthquake, several others appeared to collapse into rubble, according to videos posted on social media.
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The death toll currently stands at 119, according to the AP, though that number is expected to rise as rescue crews dig through the rubble.Mexico City’s airport has since suspended operations.
An 8.1-magnitude earthquake hit Mexico just last week, killing at least 61 people in the county’s southern coast. Tuesday’s earthquake also struck on the anniversary of a devastating 8.0-magnitude earthquake that struck Mexico City in 1985, which killed about 9,5000 people.
Shortly after the quake, both President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence tweeted a message of support to Mexico.
This is a breaking story and will be updated.