7.4 earthquake shakes Mexico City

Firefighters work to remove a bus damaged by a bridge which collapsed following a strong quake that hit Mexico on March 20, 2012.

MEXICO CITY (AFP) - A strong 7.4-magnitude earthquake hit central and southern Mexico on Tuesday, collapsing at least 60 homes near the epicentre and a pedestrian bridge in the capital where people fled shaking office buildings in fear.

One of the strongest to shake Mexico since the deadly 1985 earthquake that killed thousands in Mexico City, Tuesday's earthquake sent fear and panic across the region, especially after a less powerful, magnitude-5.1 aftershock was felt in the capital and several other aftershocks around the borders of Oaxaca and Guerrero near the epicenter.

But hours after the shaking at noon local time (2.06am Singapore time), there were still no reports of death or serious injury.

'It was very strong, very substantial,' said Mr Campos Benitez, hospital director in Ometepec, about 25km from the epicentre.

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