DHA-GENEVA 95/0451
1. A STRONG EARTHQUAKE HIT THE WEST
COAST OF MEXICO AT 15.36 HRS GMT (09.36 HRS LOCAL TIME) ON MONDAY 9 OCTOBER,
CLOSE TO THE COASTAL TOWN OF MANZANILLO, APPROXIMATELY 220 KMS SOUTH-WEST
OF GUADALAJARA AND 550 KMS WEST OF MEXICO CITY. ACCORDING TO THE
UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, THE EARTHQUAKE MEASURED 7.6 ON THE RICHTER
SCALE WITH THE EPICENTRE LOCATED AT LATITUDE 18.9 DEGREES NORTH AND LONGITUDE
104.1 DEGREES WEST.
2. EARLY REPORTS INDICATE THAT 30 - 40 PERSONS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE EARTHQUAKE WHICH CAUSED MOST DAMAGE IN THE CENTRAL STATES OF JALISCO AND COLIMA. THE QUAKE WAS STRONGLY FELT IN MEXICO CITY BUT NO DAMAGE HAS BEEN REPORTED. DETAILED ASSESSMENTS OF DAMAGE AND RELIEF REQUIREMENTS ARE CURRENTLY BEING CARRIED OUT BY THE GOVERNMENT.
3. DHA, IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE UNITED NATIONS RESIDENT COORDINATOR AND THE NATIONAL CIVIL DEFENCE AUTHORITIES IS MONITORING THE SITUATION CLOSELY AND WILL REVERT WITH FURTHER INFORMATION AS SOON AS IT BECOMES AVAILABLE.
4. NO REQUEST FOR INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN RECEIVED BY DHA AT THIS TIME.
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DPR 310