5.7 Quake Shakes Tall Buildings in Mexico City

A strong earthquake swayed skyscrapers in Mexico City and rattled colonial buildings in neighboring Puebla state today, sending frightened people into the streets. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. "There is absolute calm, zero damage,” a Puebla official said. The US Geological Survey said the quake had a magnitude of 5.7 and was centered 90 miles southeast of the capital.

In Mexico City, one 15-story apartment building rocked so much that doors opened and slammed shut—something the residents said sounded like "ghosts." Many ran outside across the metropolis of 20 million. Evacuation officials steered crowds away from power lines and other potential hazards, and anxious people waited for several minutes before returning indoors. (More Mexico City stories.)